SAD TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1931, Page 6

SAD TRAGEDY

GJ RL A XI) WOl’L D-BE H KS(T 11 EK

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON. January 22

In attempting to rescue a half caste Maori girl from drowning at Otaki Beach to-day, Mr Sydney Albert Lumguet, managing director of A. S. Patterson and Co., Ltd., lost his life. The girl, Theresa Burton, aged 13. was also drowned. One of Longuet’s sons was brought ashore exhausted, afti-i « brave attempt to save his father

There was a heavy swell running, about three o'clock, when the girl was caught in an undertow. Her call for help was heard by Longuet, who, with his family, was spending a holiday at Otaki, where he owns a farm. Together with Mr C. I). A. George, of George and George, drapers, .Wellington. he went to the rescue. They reached the girl, hut Longuet became exhausted in the struggle, and he said that he would have to let go. George continued the struggle, hut lie also had to release the girl. He reached the shore with difficulty.

Louguet’s two sons wtve on the beach. They attempted to rescue their father. One battled with the current until lie was exhausted. With a life line, a party soon reco ve red tl le body of the girl, hut that of Longuet was not recovered for some twenty minutes.