RECENT WAITARA RIVER FATALITY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 21, 23 January 1913, Page 5

RECENT WAITARA RIVER FATALITY.

PLUCKY ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE.

Further details of the drowning tragedy in the Waitara River show that many attempts were made to save young Murtagh’s life, but the rescuers were not skilled in lifesaving methods, and were not strong swimmers. A young man, named Kenneth Summerhays, in particular, appears to have made valiant efforts to save 'his nephew. It appears that a party of young men were on the bank of the Waitara River, near Mangaopa. Summerhays was in swimming, and had only been in the water a few minutes, when Murtagh asked to be placed in a canoe, close by. The canoe was only a loft, one, and Murtagh sat at on© end and placed his legs over the side. Slipping, he toll into the water, and in endeavouring to clamber into the craft, he upset it. Summerhays saw that the boy was in danger, and went to the rescue. Murtagh clutched him wildly, and both went down, the water being very deep at this spot. A boy who was oil the bank states that Summerhays lifted the lad half out of the water, while he, himself, was still under the water. The effort was too much for Summerhays, and he had hardly enough strength left to reach the bank, being helped ashore by Anselm' Flynn. In the meantime, Walter Buchanan dived in and swam out to the boy. He was not a good swimmer, and was soon in difficulties. Murtagh clutched him round the neck, and he went under. Buchanan was quite unequal to the task of saving the boy; and was forced to desist in his efforts .

Murtagh was a popular little boy, and for an eleven-year-old, was not a bad swimmer. The fatality has cast quite a gloom over the district. Guard Murtagh, the lad’s father, is a very respected resident of the Skinner Road, and much sympathy is felt for him, as well as for Mr Summerhays, who, it is recognised, did all that was in his power to avert a fatality.