DROWNING FATALITY AT MURIWAI BEACH,

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 30 January 1919, Page 3

DROWNING FATALITY AT MURIWAI BEACH,

BOY BATHER'S DEATH

CARRIED OUT BY CURRENT,

A VERY sad drowning accident, in which Gordon Hendra, a boy of 12 years, whose parents reside at Woodhill, lost his life, ocoijrred on the Muriwai Beach, West Coast, on Sunday last about mid-day.

The boy was one of a party who had gone to spend the day on the beach- At the time of the accident, he and five others were engaged in surf^bathing about 50 yards from the shore. A heavy aea was running. Several of the party were remarking upon the strength of the undercurrent, when suddenly they notic« d Hendra swimming in thie breakers sqme 40 yards further gut. Realising that he was in imminent danger of drpwmng three of the men tried to swim to his rescue, however, the current wag too strong, and they, tqo, were §9en tg be in difficulties,

A horse was procured at orrider succeeded in *oe> and tne adults b»* . reaching the three -~ owing to the heavy sea, was unable to save the boy. After struggling frantically in the water for a fe W minutes, the deceased was sftefl fc», siflk breath the surf. The fa^. f^ body has ao far proved fruitless.