A Gallant Act

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 282, 18 February 1928, Page 1

A Gallant Act

FATAL ATTEMPT AT RESCUE INQUEST ON VICTIM Heart failure,' due to shock which his war-injured organs could not stand, was this morning established as the cause of death when the late Mr. Percy White, on January 30, at Cornwallis, died . after jumping into the harbour to rescue a boy named Stanley Pearce.

The inquest was held at Onehunga this morning, before the district coroner, Mr. D. A. Sutherland. Mr. S. I. Goodall appeared on behalf on deceased’s dependants.

Ytoy A. Pearce, father of the boy who fell off the wharf; Frederick M. Langdon; and Charles S. Wheaton, gave evidence of the circumstances connected with the fatality, from which it appeared that deceased jumped into the water fully clothed, and got hold of the boy, but was instantly in difficulties.

Mr. Langdon secured a boat, and took the boy from the rescuer, deceased then seeming to be all right, and capable of returning to the shore. After landing the boy Messrs. Langdon and Wheaton returned, to find deceased still endeavouring to swim, but with his head under water.

When brought ashore he was still breathing, but was unconscious. He had not been in the water longer than five minutes, but all efforts to restore him were unavailing. Dr. W. M. McCormick certified that death resulted from heart failure, due to the unhealthy condition of all deceased’s organs as the result of injuries received in the war.

The coroner said deceased was evidently not drowned, and returned a verdict that the cause of death was heart failure due to shock.