INQUEST.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2456, 1 February 1881, Page 2

INQUEST.

SECOND EDITION

An inquest was held before R. Beet,ham, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, at Kett’s Hotel, Waimate, on the body of Timothy Fitzgerald, who was drowned-in the Waiho river on Saturday afternoon. The evidence went to show that the deceased was a native of Ireland, unmarried, and about 34 years of age t He was in the employment of a contractor named W. Talbot, and on Saturday afternoon went to bathe with four other men in that part of the river just under Mr McLean’s out station, where the water is about nine feet deep. Deceased, who could not swim, was undressed first, and refused to wait until the others were ready, remarking that he would jump in and swim to the other side. He jumped in, but being unable to swim, sank as soon as he was out of his depth. He called out to the others but they took no notice as they thought he was diving. On coming to the surface again he called out a second time, and Talbot, one of the bathers, attempted to rescue him, but in vain, owing to his being himself a bad swimmer, and he nearly lost his own life. The body was subsequently dived for and recovered. A verdict of “ Accidentally drowned ” was returned.