SURFING AT SUMNER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 4, 30 December 1912, Page 8

SURFING AT SUMNER.

TWO BATHERS DROWNED. PLUCKY ATTEMPT AT RESCUE. (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, December 29. Two drowning fatalities occurred at Sumner yesterday. There was a nor’-wester blowing, which apparently had the effect of making tne beach dangerous, and strong swimmers found themselves in difficulties. A man named George Richard Atkinson, a resident of Woolston, and only about three months out from England, went to Sumner with his wife and three children this morning, and about noon he went for a swim near the pier. The tide was running out very fast, and the undertow caught him. Others went to his aid, and it is said that he told one man who got him to where he could put ins feet on the bottom that he was all right, but as soon as he was let go he disappeared and was not seen again. At the time of telegraphing the body had not been recovered. About three o’clock in the afternoon, when the New South Wales and other visiting swimmers were about to give a demonstration of life-sawing methods near the pier at Sumner, a report was brought that a man was in grave difficulties in the water towards the baths end of the beach. Hie whole party with their apparatus set off at once. The man could bt seen' far out, and Solomons and Hay went towards him. AA T hen within roughly a hundred yards of him he was seen to throw up his hands and disappear. Solomons dived but could find no sign of him, and returned to shore. The man whose age is 59 years, is named Bathurst, and resided in Harper street, Sydenham. He was bathing with his wife, his son, and, some friends. / A FEW PARTICULARS. Further particulars of the drowning fatalities are to the effect that the Sydney swimmers showed great pluck in endeavouring to assist Bathurst. Solomons and Hays dived a score ol limes, but without avail. This was their first failure to save life under similar circumstances, and was due probably to having received the alarm doo late. Solomons has rescued nearly thirty persons in Sydney. Ernest Charles Bathurst is the full name of the drowned man, who resided at 3t. Albans, and was aged 59. At the time of the fatality he was surfing with his wife, his son and two men. George Richard Atkinson, 42 years ol age, resided at Linwood. He was employed by the Kaiapoi Woollen Company. "A collection taken up on the beach after the fatality in aid of the widow and family resulted in ovoi £36 being given, and promises of further amounts. The bodies have not yet been recovered, and the general opinion is that they will be swept out to sea. A DANGEROUS BEACH. Solomons was obviously affected seriously by the happening. When ; reporter saw him afterwards, it was an example, he said, which must have been needed for many years. The space of the beach was very , big, and for their own sakes people, be compelled to bathe within pertain definite limits, so that in case of trouble, help might be at hand. This was the custom at all recognised bathing places in Australia, and most certainly it should be adopted here. Bathurst was drowned because of the elay occasioned by a long run down the beach, and even when they got to the ,place the only direction they could get, was “out there.”. , Solomons says that. Hay put up a very fine swim, and they wore naif a mile out before they sighted the frowning man. When roughly a Hundred yards away, Solomons saw deceased’s hands go up. Then he was seen no more. They dived a great many times, but could not find him. Further down Hie current was very strong, and much stronger than towards the surface. In fact the cur-, rents were quite unusual. In his opinion tho day was a very dangerous one, and swimming difficult. ‘' Some of the members of the Sumnei* Life-Boat Brigade, under ActingPilot Vines, and accompanied by Constable Hampton, went out to-day in the direction of Whitewash Head, but owing to the heavy sea they were unable to get near enough to the rocks to ascertain if there were any signs of the bodies of the victims. The search will be continued to-morrow r .