DROWNING FATALITY IN MANAWATU RIVER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2749, 24 June 1924, Page 2

DROWNING FATALITY IN MANAWATU RIVER.

POWER BOARD EMPLOYEE LOSES ITIS LIFE. A distressing fatality occurred in Hie Manawatn River at Rarere Road on Saturday morning, when Mr A W. Park, a single man. aged 23, was drowned'. A gang of men under Mr Park.belonging to the Mannwatii Oronn Electric Power Board was engaged erecting the power wires across the river and a boat was being used in which were Mr AY. Fid - r-lier lowner of the boat), who reside-, at Karere Road and the deceased. At the time of the accident rhev were lowing one of the wires across the river and got into difficulties, with jhe result, that the boat capsized and precipaled the . eenpaai.-, into the river, wliieh was in a -tale of fresh, due to recent rains. Fort unately the gang was divided and men were on either side of tin* river. Mr Fleteln-r succeeded in getting near the Linton side and was rescued in a state of collapse hv Mr J. Southey. While Air Southey was getting Air Fletcher another member of the gang. Air A. Steer, plunged in from the Longburn side to rescue the victim hut was washed into -nine. willow trees lower down. In another attempt, Steer got ti-l-end of the drowning man by running along the bank and once again plunged in .and succeeded in getting within a few feet of him when lie was again caught by a different current and Park disappeared. So far the body lias not been located. / The parents of' the deceased reside in Auckland.

This .accident is ilie third one (hat has happened to this particular gang in a week. Several days ago ATr J. Proctor (foreman) and ATt W. Turner (who are both in hospital) were seriously injured unloading poles at Ashhurst and the late Mr Park, the victim of Saturday’s fatality, was temporarily filling Air Proctor’s position as foreman. —Times.