DROWNING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 818, 1 March 1910, Page 2

DROWNING FATALITY.

BOY AND WOUED-BE RESCUER LOSE THEIR EIVES. J A sad drowning fatality occurred on Sunday afternoon, whereby John Clifford Podmore, eleven years of age, son of our respected townsman, Mr C. H. Podmore, and Joshua Rich, an ex-man-o’-warsmau, lost their lives. It appears that the deceased boy, together with several others, was bathing in the Manawatu River near the Rowing Club’s boat shed, at about 4 o’clock. The other boys had left the water and were dressing, when one of them noticed that Podmore was in difficulties and gave the alarm. Rich, who was in the whare near by, heard the boy call out that someone was drowning, and immediately rushed out, and, without divesting himself of his clothing, dived into the water and went to the boy’s assistance. He reached the drowning boy, and managed to get him on to his (Rich’s) back, and then struck out for the shore. It is surmised that he must have been seized with cramp for after swimming a short distance they both sank. The boy was seen to rise some distance away but sank again almost immediately. Rich rose once but was powerless to gain the shore, and was drowned. The police were immediately informed of the fatality and dragging was at once commenced. The body of the boy was recovered about half an hour later, and artificial respiration was continued for four hours but without success. Rich’s body was recovered at 10.30 o’clock yesterday morning. Rich who is a single man, 35 years of age, has no relatives in the Dominion,

THE INQUEST. The inquest touching the death of John Clifford Podmore and Joshua Rich was held before Alf. Fraser, Esq., District Coroner, yesterday afternoon, when the following evidence was taken: — William Nye, telegraph messenger, deposed that on Sunday afternoon, together with about ten other boys, including the deceased, he was bathing near the boat shed. Witness and several of the others left the water, and were dressing, when one of them called out that Podmore was drowning. On looking round, witness saw deceased struggling in the water, and Rich was swimming towards him. Witness then saw Rich get the boy onto his back and strike out for the shore. When they were about five yards from the shore Rich appeared to shake the boy off, and they both sank. Rich came to the surface again in about the same place, but the boy was carried out by the current. They both sank again almost immediately. Witness said he did not hear Rich tell them to come out of the water. Podmore could swim slightly.

In reply to the police, witness said that he was a better swimmer than Podmore. A man on the bank told them to push a boat out, which they did. Rich did not appear to make any attempt to catch hold of it. Witness did not get in the boat because there were no oars. He was not a strong enough swimmer to render any assistance. Henry McDonnell, 14 years of age corroborated the previous witness’ evidence as to going bathing with the other boys and seeing Podmore struggling in the water and Rich swimming towards him. When Rich got Podmore on to his back he struck out for the shore, but sank almost immediately. Podmore came to the surface again some distance out, but Rich rose in about the same place. A man on the bank told witness and the other boys to push a boat out which they did, but it did not quite reach Rich. Witness said he did not hear Rich tell the boys to come out of the water. Constable Woods stated that at about 4.10 o’clock on Sunday afternoon he was informed that Mr Podmore’s son and Joshua Rich had been drowned near the boat shed. He immediately proceeded to the spot and commenced dragging. Podmore’s body was re covered at half-past four. It was taken into the boatshed and artificial respiration was continued for four hours but without success.

C. H. Podmore, father of the deceased boy, stated that he heard of the fatality at about half-past four and on proceeding to the spot found that dragging for the bodies had been commenced. Witness went to his shop and procured another grapple. On returning he found his son's body had just been recovered.

Kdward George Martin, wharf labourer deposed that in company with John Broad he was dragging for Rich’s body on Monday morning, and recovered it at about 10.30 o’clock. The body was taken charge of by Constable, Sweeeney. J Charles Williams, labourer, stated that he lived with deceased Rich, in a whare on the river bank. On Sunday afternoon he heard some one call out that a boy was drowning and Rich rushed out and jumped into the river and swam towards the boy. Rich had his clothes on. He gave similar evidence to previous witnesses as to what happened after Rich reached the boy. He stated that Rich was a single man and had no relatives in the Dominion. The Coroner returned a verdict that John Clifford Podmore was accidently drowned whilst bathing in the Manawatu River, and that Joshua Rich met his death accidently by drowning whilst trying to save the life of John Clifford Podmore.