ANGLER DROWNED

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1933, Page 4

ANGLER DROWNED

DRAGGED INTO SEA BY ROPE. FATALITY OFF COROMANDEL; (Per Press Association—Copyright),

•AUCKLAND. Juno 14

While he was assisting in fishing operation, 5 on an Auckland' launch "-off Coromandel Peninsula, a young man. named Leonard Henry Peterson, whose* parents reside iat Mount Eden, was dragged overboard by a .rope and ■drowned. • . ■ IH.-

Peterson was a member of the cretv cf the Clifton, owned by G. H. Knaggs of Auckland. The third memher of the crew was Edward Fla veil. At /the time of the,, accident, the men had commenced operations, and Peterson was standing on> the starboard * .side playing out the dragrope' which was; attached to the net.- .The weather was line, while only*, a medium sea’ was running. .Suddenly Peterson called but, that his foot had been caught in the rope, and Flavell, ; who,was at the controls immediately stopped the engibe, to ease the drag on the line while Knaggs left the ..\yheel ■ land went "to assist the deceased.' . . »T

He had just seized him, when the rope dragged: both, of them overboard, Knaggs being pulled over the side by Peterson. As soon as the others ■vVefit overboard, Flavell reversed the engine and backed the launch towards them. Kniaggs was assisted aboard and the two men then ,hauled in the drag-rbpe, which had run out with Peterson for forty-five feet. When he was brought aboard the rope was tightly ..wound round his right ankle. The Tope wa<* cut, with the loss- of several hundred feet of rope and tfie net. ; ;V: ' As soon as the deceased was lifted aboard, Knaggs and Flavell commenced restorative, measures for two hour's without success.- They then sailed for Quarry Rock to obtain a doctor, ‘fin the journey artificial restoration was continued for another hour but it was' then seen that further efforts were hopeless. V' A verdict of accidental drowning was returned at the inquest. • : -