BROTHERS DROWNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26636, 5 December 1947, Page 4

BROTHERS DROWNED

TRAGEDY IN HUTT RIVER P.A. WELLINGTON, Dec. 4. Two brothers were drbwned in the Hutt River to-day. They were Graham David Lester, aged 9, and Alan Raymond Lester, aged 14. They were the only children of Mr and Mrs W. R. Lester, of Oxford terrace, Lower Hutt. The elder brother, Alan, went to help Graham when the latter was seen to be in difficulties and both then disappeared. The boys were first seen at 11.30 a.m. swimming about 100 yards south of Melling bridge. They had almost reached the side of the river, where the w£ter is from 15 to 20 feet deep, when other children noticed that the younger boy was in trouble. The other boy went to his assistance and both children were seen to disappear in the deep water. The children rushed to a neighbouring P. and T. yard from where the police were informed, and with the assistance of P. and T. employees and other volunteers the river was dragged. The body of the elder boy was recovered at 2.10 p.m. Dragging operations were continued throughout the afternoon and the body of the younger boy was recovered about 5.20 p.m. Neither parent was aware of the tragedy until Mr Lester read of the accident in an evening paper.. At that time the boys had not been identified. The phrt of the river at which the accident occurred is widely used as a swimming pool in summer time.