FATHER BOWE’S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1928, Page 1

FATHER BOWE’S DEATH

CORONER’S VERDICT. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. WESTPORT, Jan. 4. An inquest into the death of Father Bowe was held before Mr E. R. Fox, Coroner. Dr P. L. Foote stated that he was on the North Beach at 4.45 on Tuesday afternoon and was informed that a. man had been brought out of the water. He examined him, and in his opinion he was then dead. Respirative methods were carried out for about half an hour without result. In liis opinion death was duo to heart failure, and not to drowning. He knew deceased, but he had not attended him, except for an injury to his leg. He could not say whether there was anything wrong with liis heart. He was a good swimmer and had done a lot of surf bathing. After the fatality, witness went into the surf and it was not dangerous. There was practically no back wash. In his opinion after the examination, death was due to heart failure. There was no water in the lungs.

Father Brennan gave evidenco of identification. He thought that deceased was about 50 years of ago. He last saw him about 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon. As far as he could tell lie was in his usual health, although lie; had not been in the best of health for: some time past. Ho had not been attended by a doctor for sonic considerable time. Deceased was a surf bather, | hut had not been bathing for some time, except on two occasions. He mentioned about bathing on Tuesday afternoon, hut witness did not know that he was actually going bathing. James Connell Brown said that lie was on the beach yesterday afternoon and saw deceased going into the water at about 4.30. He did not go beyond the first breakers for some time. He saw him between the first and second breakers for some time and watched him floating on his, hack. About 10 minutes later lie was surprised to see him further out than he usually went and looked to see whether lie w;v alright. The beach appeared to he quiet. He had just come out. Shortly after five liis daughter informed him that there was a man drowning. He ran along the beach with several others and arrived there as they were bringing him out of the water. Artificial respiration was practised until Dr Foote arrived a few minutes later. In the opinion of witness lie was dead when brought ashore. Everything possible was done from the time the alarm was given. Before lie was rescued he Was floating towards the beach. Harry Reid said that lie was on the beach yesterday afternoon and he saw a man and a woman in bathing. The lady later came out. He could see a man far out, but thought he was just floating. He kept watching him and saw him floating farther out. He told some young men that they had better get the reel. They went straight across and brought tho reel. Before the reel could be brought into operation the body was floating in by itself and was brought ashore. The Coroner said that the evidence pointed to tho fact that there was no delay in recovering the body from the water, and all means of resuscitation were tried. The. doctor’s evidencepointed to the fact that death was due to Heart failure. A verdict of death from heart failure while bathing at the North Beach was returned.

The Bench extended its sympathy to tho relatives of deceased, the Coroner stating that it was a very sad case.