ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 53, 3 November 1913, Page 4

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

[Per Press Association.] Invercargill, November 2. At the inquest touching the drown- ■ ing of Patrick Hughes, the evidence showed that deceased,- with his brothers Michael and Edward, and a man named Husband, attempted to cross tne New River in a flat-bottomed boat. There was a strong.wind blowing and the water was rough. Deyeaa- : ed was sitting at one end of.the boat, f <:, keeping it balanced, when within t\yo , chains l W the"' lapd' the bfitfeeasjed. ieR ’ , backwards into the water. EtjwanJi n dived in after him, but was parted from deceased by a big wave. Michael then dived in, but lost sight of deceased, and lie swam ashore in a semiconscious condition. Edward drifted ashore, and was picked up unconscious. Deceased was subject to fits, and it was suggested that a seizure was responsible‘for his falling out, or that one of the rbwers missed a stroke,!., causing the boat to lurch. The coroner returned a Verdict of accidental. / death, arid placed on record Ids appreciation of tire brave conduct of Edward and Michael Hughes and of Husband.