DROWNING FATALITY AT PARAPARAUMU.

Otaki Mail, 27 September 1922, Page 3

DROWNING FATALITY AT PARAPARAUMU.

INQUEST. i ' | An inquest was held at Paraparaumu yesterday in connection with the j drowning fatality whereby Mr H. Pratley lost his life. Mr \V. C. Hution ! was coroner, while Constables Greggan and Brydone represented the police. I Augustus George Ogden deposed: 1 | reside at Paraparaumu, and I have seen the body of the deceased and identify it as that of Henry Pratley. On Sunday last (-4th) a party of l~ left ! Paraparaumu to go fishing at Kapiti. We went in a motor launch, and rej turned to the beach at about ten past I six. The sea was very elioppy and ' waves came iu very quickly. We left the launch in a dinghy, three leaving in each party. Deceased was in the dinghy with me, sitting iu the stern, while I was in the bow. The dinghy was hit by a big wave and swamped, and the three of us were pitched into the sea. We were about -Of) to 25u yards from the shure. I found myself in the water alongside of deceased. De-

ceased never moved after hitting tlu water. He seemed cramped up and un able to swim. 1 supported him l'oi some time; he never spoke or moved If he could swim he had no chance as he was wearing big sea boots. We went under several times together. I lost him under the water, being exhausted. and when I arose 1 only saw him a few seconds; he seemed to sink. I had great difficulty in saving myself but managed to get ashore after being helped. Deceased just made a noise with his mouth but never seemed to ery for help. The body of the deceased was found some hours later, and was brought to l’arapuraumu. The others got to shore without accident. John David Howell deposed: I reside sit the Paraparaumu beach. X hoard of the accident at about 8 o’clock oil Sunday night. I went over to Dangleys neighbors, who have had had much experience of the beach. . They said it was useless to go along the beach to look for the body till about 11 p.m. We went along to the scene of the accident about 11.1 a. We found the body about 250 yards north of where the accident had happened. We saw the body removed to its home.

Arthur Muleolm Broun deposed: X reside at Haw-era, and was one of the party who went tlshing on Sunday. We returned from Kapiti at about f> p.m., iind started to land in the dinghy, three at it time—two passengers and the boatman. The first party got ashore without getting wet, the second

party got swamped twenty yards out. and the third party fared likewise. We never realised there was any danger. The fourth party was about 200 yards out when they struck trouble. We saw the three men thrown into the water, and then could only see two. We swum out but failed to see any-sign of deceased. 1 passed the boatman (James Padden) and then Ogden coming ashore. 1 asked Ogden if he was alright, and he said “Yes, go for Harry.” meaning deceased. I saw no sign of l’ratlcy; he must have either been hit by the boat or had a lit. He could not be seen in the water. A verdict that deceased was drowned by accident in the surf at I’araparauimt was returned. The deceased, who was tit years of age, will be buried to-day.