ACCIDENTAL DROWNING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3975, 25 July 1929, Page 2

ACCIDENTAL DROWNING.

BODY RECOVERED ON OCEAN BEACH.

'CORONIAL INQUIRY.

A coronial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Lawrence Barry McGee, the nine-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. T. McGee, of Clyde Street, Foxton, who was drowned an the Manawatu River on the evening of Saturday, June 22nd, was held in the Courthouse yestqrday afternoon, presided over by Mr. A. Fraser, Coroner. James Robert Mohekey, a child aged nine years, deposed that on the afternoon of June 22nd he was playing with deceased and other companions on Easton Park but later in the afternoon they left the Park and went down to the wharf to see the new boat come in. As the vessel did not come in they ’commenced playing on the “Portland” moored to the wharf and afterwards got on to some flax punts. From there deceased got into a row boat tied up to the punt and told the other children to let the boat go as far as the rope would allow it. The “flattie" was pulled ,in and let go in this manner several times. Then two boys got in at a time and the boat pulled backwards and forwards. Eventually three got into the boat including deceased. When witness and another boy named Jack Haines got out of the boat they looked around for deceased but all they saw was rings of water near the boat and Barry MleGee had disappeared. Deceased came to the surface and commenced to struggle to grasp the boat which witness let out as far as it would go. He was unable to reach up high enough to get a grip of the sides, however, and floated down the river. Witness and his companions then went home. Thomas McGee, father of deceased gave evidence of identification. Deceased was nine years of age. Witness last saw his son alive about 4 o’clock on the afternoon of Saturday, 22nd June, when Im was playing with three other children outside witness’s garage in Clyde Street. Constable) Owen said that at 5.15 p.m. on June 22nd he received a telephone communication to the effect that deceased had fallen into the river. Witness made immediate search and commenced dragging operations that night with others but no trace of the, body was seen. Since then the river and beaches had been searched almost every day but the body was not recovered until Wednesday when it was found on the ocean tbeach a short distance south of the Manawatu River. Constable 'Owen pointed out that “flatties” were .'particularly dangerous to those who did pot know how to manipulate them. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death through accidental drowning in the Ma.nawatu River on the night of June 22nd.