Drowning at Waitarere

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 6

Drowning at Waitarere

Well-known Pahiatua Man CAUGHT BY STRONG UNDERTOW A drowning fatality causing the death of a man, and a young lady’s miraculous escapo from a similar fate a short time later, marred the opening of tho holiday season at Waitarere Beach, near Levin, on Sunday. The victim JOSEPH ANNESLEY SHEKLETON, aged 35, married with one child, manager of the Balfour Estate at Pahiatua. Deceased was in bathing with his brother-in-law, Mr. Edward Swainson, of Kimbolton Road, Feilding. Ho entered the water about 2.30 in the afternoon at a point 200 yards nortJi of the track on tho beach from the road. At tho time the tide was approaching dead low water and there was a heavy sea with a strong undertow running. Both men were swimming some distance out beyond the main body of bathers when they found themselves in difficulties. After a hard struggle Mr. Swainson succeeded in reaching the shore in an exhausted condition aud he summoned assistance by which timo Mr. Shekleton, who was not a strong swimmer, could be seen a long way out from tho edge of the water. The life-saving reel was quickly brought down from tho sandhills, and donning the belt, Mr. J. Sciascia, of Levin, went out to the spot, but returned without seeing any trace of 31 r. Skekleton. Visibility was . reduced by the huge waves pounding in to tho shore in quick succession. 3lr. Sciascia had hardly gained the shore than watchers on the hills reported seeing 3tr. Sheklcton again, but later there was considerable speculation as to the correctness of the report., On this occasion 3lr. J. D. Sciascia, father of the previous searcher, took out the bolt without having any success. Subsequently an aeroplane from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station at

‘Ohakea was brought down for the pur- r pose of conducting a search, but they ~ did not have anything to report. 3lr. ’ Swainson was so exhausted as a result of his experience that ho had to bo 1 attended by Dr. Ivonrick Dean, of . Palmerston North. The beach has a record as a safe one, 1 this being only the second drowning ® fatality since the resort was opened 1 some nine years ago. Up to the present time no trace has been found of 31r. 1 Shckleton’s body. j GIRL’S NARROW ESCAPE \ i Hope for Mr. Shekleton’s life had , liardly been abandoned than tho life- j line was called for about a milo down the beach and 100 yards north of the wreck of the Hyderabad where 3tiss Muriel Lockyer, aged 19, of 5 Hereford Street, was fighting for her life with two companions, her brother, Mr. Frank Lockycr, and 31r. Allan Anderson, of 31 Pahiatua Street, Palmerston North. i The trio were bathing on a shoulder some distance from the shore and were < swept out by the undertow into water out of their depth. 3lr. Lockyer managed to reach the shore and obtained assistance, while Mr. Anderson remained with 31iss Lockyer. Two young men who were on the Hyderabad, 3lr. Charles Stevens, of Broadway, Palmerston North, and Mr. Arthur Mason, stationed at Hobsonville Air Base, but at present residing in Palmerston North, rushed into the water before the reel had arrived and succocded in bringing 31iss Lockyer ashore just in the nick of time. She was on the verge of a complete collapse, but after a time was brought around by Dr. S. J. Thompson, of Levin. It was also necessary for 31r. Stevens to receive medical attention. It was not until late in the evening that Miss Lockycr had recovered sufficiently to allow her to return to Palmerston North. YOUNG MAN DROWNED AT ST. KILDA NARROW ESCAPE FOR THREE COMPANIONS Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Dec. 25. When a canvas beach canoe capsized in the surf at St. Hilda on Sunday about 1 p.m. throwing its four occupants into the heavy surf, George Charles Burns, of 21 Jackson Street, a steel sashmaker, aged 20 years, who was unable to swim, was caught by the tidal rip and drowned. His three companions, two of whom were swimmers, struggled ashore with the aid of the beach patrol. Burns and three others, Stanley Gordon, Arthur 3lclndoe and - Alfred 3lackie, went to the beach about 10.45 a.m. and approached George Whitlow, ■ who was on patrol duty for a canoe. On being questioned all are stated to have answered that they could swim and the ! canoo was provided at their own risk. ; The party went out to White Island for fishing and all went well until they i were returning shortly before 1 p.m. At i this time thero was a strong north-west ' wind and the surf was running high. When tile canoe was between 100 and 200 yards out it was caught broadside , by a large wave and overturned, throwl ing the occupants out. Mackie saw r Burns in difficulties and Mclndoe was i trying to aid him, but he was unsuccess--5 ful. Whitlow noticed the boat overturn i and with other members of the St. l Hilda Surf Club ran along the beach i and gave what assistance they could, . but they were unable to locate Burns. > His body has not yet been recovered. I , NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY DROWNED AT GISBORNE 1 GISBORNE, Dec. 25. While bathing at tho Hole-in-the-l Wull on Sunday Douglas Brown, aged ; nine, disappeared and is presumed to > have boen die ned. The police dragged 3 the river throughout the afternoon s and life-savers dived unsuccessfully iu > deep holes. The boy was not seen in > difficulties and apparently was drowned unnoticed.