LAUNCH CAPSIZES

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1931, Page 8

LAUNCH CAPSIZES

THREE LIVES LOST. WELLINGTON, February ,3. Three residents of Island Bay Inst their lives in a fishing accident mi tfie lonely coast near Karari Stream. Four men left the Bay at 1.30 a.m., on Sunday in the launch Islander, and about 3 a.m. it capsized in the Terawlilti Rip. Those drowned were : —Captain J. Stuart, 50 years; Harry Stuart, 20 years; R. R. Coppoek. The survivor is Alex Stuart 18 years. When the launch capsized, Captam Stuart, who was at the wheel, and Coppoek, wlio was also on deck, were both swept overboard and drowned. r I lie two son.-. Harry and Alex, were trapped inside one in the engine room and the other in a hunk in the forepart of the boat. Some time later Andrew Tail’s launch -Nonna ,sighted the upturned launch, got a dinghy alongside, and found by tapping that two were alive inside. Leaving two men in charge, Tait hurried hack in the Norma to Island Bay. Two launches, the Prince and the Ik a, with all the available fishermen, left the Bay and shortly after reaching the upturned boat the Islander righted itself, throwing the two entrapped men out into a choppy sea. One of the rescuers managed to secure the youngest brother with a boat hook but the heavy sea swept Henry out o'f reach, and he sank with one arm stretched above his head 2() yards away. The survivor says the air was very thick before the boat righted, and his head ached liadlv. He saw his brother before he sank, and he was smothered in oil from the engine. Mrs Stuart was in church when two fishermen in sea-going clothes, disturbed the service with tidings of her husband’s and son’s deaths. The widow left the church with her three small children. Captain Stuart was well known as a coastal skipper, his last command being the steamer Kennedy. He retired, hut took up fishing with his two sons. He was a prominent member of the Shetland Society.

Mr Coppoek was a Wellington business man and managing-director of R. Coppoek and Co. He leaves a widow and child.

i lie tug Terawliiti put to sea but was too late to lie of material assist-

ance. Tlie Islander war towed to Island Bav this afternoon.