DROWNING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3598, 12 February 1927, Page 3

DROWNING FATALITY.

ON THE OCEAN BEACH,

UNDERTOW CLAIMS A VICTIM.

LEAVES WIFE AND SEVEN CHILDREN.

A sad drowning fatality occurred on the local ocean beach at about noon yesterday, the victim being John O’Hagan, a well-known dairy farmer of Kumeron, near Woodville, aged 44 years.

Deceased motored from Woodville with friends to participate in Ibe combined schools railway excursion picnic from the Wbodvilh* district. In company with a friend be decided to have a dip in the surf at ebb tide and was carried out with the undertow. The attempt to rescue him by bis friend was unsuccessful as were attempts by others/ When the fatality was made known a gloom was cast over the picnic festivities. The police were communicated with and Constable Owen arranged for inon’lo patrol the beach on both sides of the river.

The body was washed ashore on the incoming tide about a mile from the scene of the fatally.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest touching the dealh of John O’llngnn, was held at the Court House at 11 a.m. to-day before Mr. A‘lf Fraser, coroner. The first witness called was Rose Lucy O’llagau, wife of deceased, who staled that she accompanied her husband from their home at Kumeron yesterday for the-Foxton Bench. Upon arrival at the beach, deceased and Mr Walllior went inlo the sea for a bathe. Witness saw deceased throw up his arms and disappear in the breakers. Deceased was’a strong swimmer, and in witness’ opinion must have been caught in the under-tow or current. Deceased was only a short time in the water before be disappeared. Constable Owen deposed that at 1 p.m. yesterday, while at Bninesse, lie received a message that a drowning accident had occurred at Manawatu Heads. Witness proceeded to the scene, and on arrival at the ocean beach, at a point opposite the bathing shed, a. considerable number of people assembled, and he was informed that (hat was (he spot where deceased entered the water about two hours previously. The tide was then coming in, and there were considerable breakers on the beach. Witness was informed that an unsuccessful! attempt had been made to launch a boat. Several men had also gone out as far ns safety allowed in an attein.pl to locate and recover the body, which, however, had not been seen since deceased sank. Five hours after the accident. the body of deceased was washed ashore, about a mile north of* where deceased entered the water. The body was removed to (he morgue. Witness subsequently examined the body, but found no marks of violence. If was about low tide, when deceased entered the water, and the beach is quite unsafe frtr bathing except w\on the tide is coming in, owing to the strong undercurrent. The Coroner returned a verdict, of accidental drowning, and expressed the opinion that warning notices should be displayed, setting out the danger of entering (ho water when the tide was running out. He understood that a lifesaving reel was at the seaside, and ibis should be- pal into use if possible. The body of the deceased was removed to Knmeroa to-day, where (lie interment, will take plhce.