A BRAVE ATTEMPT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1929, Page 6

A BRAVE ATTEMPT

TO SAVE MAN

(By Telegraph—Press Association). X AUCKLAND, Dec. 27. The body of John Massey Gardiner, who was drowned last Saturday afternoon, was found floating in Manakau narbour last evening by Mr J. Recce. Kenneth William said he was in company with Andrew Christie and Selwyn Lloyd at McKendrick's Parade, Totpapa, last Saturday afternoon, when he noticed Gardiner "fishing with a net across Austin’s Bay from a fiat oottomod boat. At about 4.30 p.m. witness heard Gardiner cail out: “Ken! Ken!” four or five times. Witness then saw Gardiner in the water, and his boat drifting up the harbour. Gardiner appeared to he entangled in his net, and the current going out was apparently holding him iu it. Witness immediately stripped off his clothing and swam out to assist him. Christie and Lloyd were also swimming out. When witness got close to Gardiner, lie could see plainly that deceased was entangled in the net, which had a belly in it. When witness was about ten or fifteen feet from Gardiner, he became entangled in the net himself and got free with extreme difficulty. By that time Gardiner had disappeared, hut witness did not actually see linn sink. The verdict was that Gardiner was accidentally drowned while fishing. The Coroner commented on the bravery of the three men who went to Gardiner’s assistance. He complimented Frazer, Christies and Lloyd upon their splendid endeavour to save Gardiner at great risk to themselves. They were all equally brave, and he trusted their conduct would be brought under the notice of the Royal Humane Society and duly recognised by that body.