YOUNG MAN DROWNED

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2520, 19 December 1922, Page 3

YOUNG MAN DROWNED

WHILE BATHING AT THE SEASIDE. BODY NOT YET RECOVERED.

A sad, bathing fatality occurred at the local seaside on Sunday morning, when Ronald William Kilpatrick, 18 years of age, and the only ; son of Mr and Mrs Kilpatrick, of 19 Ward Street, Palmerston N., was droAvned Avhile bathing in the river almost opposite the store near the swings. .’The deceased, accompanied by a friend, Alexander Brace, came to the seaside as the guest of Mr P. -J. Wilson to make arrangements for the holidays, and shortly after nine o’clock the lads went out in a boat for the purpose of enjoying a sAvirn. At the time the tide Avas on the turn and with a fresh in the river there was a strong run out, although the spot AA'here the tAvo lads were bathing is not considered dangerous at full tide. It is impossible to ascertain at present what actually occurred; From what we can gather the two young, men bad been in and out of the water for some time and the deceased said he would have another dive before going out. His companion Avas in the act of putting out the anchor at the time. The deceased AA r ent under and.failed to come to the surface. Whether he was attacked by cramp yr a-heart seizure is problematical, bull it is almost •certain that he was caught in the current and carried aAvay. The alarm was- immediately given and dragging operations commenced for the recovery of the body Avhicli were continued over a Avde area all day and yesterday without result. In conversation Avith Constable OAveu, who -is directing operations .for the recovery of the body, Ave were informed that the spot at Avhicli the fatality happened, the depth of Avater AA r ould be about three or four feet. The water, owing-to tin* fresh in the river, is very dirty and there is a strong current there which Avould be accelerated with the outgoing tide. The constable stated that there are feA\\ if any, snags nearby, Avhicli Avould hold the body. Although there is a possibility that t he body has been earned out to sea the locality over a Avde area is being systematically, searched. If the assumption s correct, that the body has been carried out to sea with the current, the chances are that it will be cast up on the sea shores along the Otaki coast.

It is stated that deceased Avas not a strong swimmer. Upon noticing that his companion had disappeared, Brace dived, seved several times in the locality but could not find any trace of deceased. The deceased lad’s parents were. speedily notified: A«f A tragedy and proceeded at once to Foxton. Kilpatrick, who Avas a promising youth'", in the employ of Messrs Barraud and Abraham, Ltd.,’-wasam old Palmerston High School boy, having left that institution last year to enter upon his commercial," career. He Avas an ardent sport and took a keen interest and an active part in .Much; .sympathy .will be felt for the bereaved parents in the loss of their only son. As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased the fiag Avas fioAvn at. half-mast over Messrs Barraud and Abraham’s premises at Palmerston yesterday.- A