SURF BOAT SWAMPED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 566, 19 January 1929, Page 1

SURF BOAT SWAMPED

Farmer and Two Maoris Lost SURVIVORS JUST REACH SHORE

Press Association TE KUITI, To-day. r ROUGH a surf boat being swamped in a small bay on the Hari Ha,ri Estate, near Marakopa, a farmer and two natives lost their lives. Four others gained the shore after a trying experience among the waves, one reaching an oar just as his strength failed him

The drowned are: John Riddell, aged 45. Charlie Maikuku, a Maori. Rubay, a Maori. A party of seven went, out just before sunset last evening to try out the surf boat with the object of surfing at daybreak to-day. The boat successfully negotiated the first line of breakers, and was reaching the second line when an exceptionally heavy wave swamped the boat, and it overturned. The men hung on ‘o the boat for some time. When the next breaker rolled in Mr. Riddell was not among the party. Three others of the party, with Maikuku. attempted to swim ashore. Three successfully landed, but Maikuku apparently became separated and

was lost sight of by the other swimmers. Maikuku’s body was washed up later. The other two, Rubay and Potai. stayed on the upturned boat, and it is concluded that they drifted outwards and then decided to. attempt to swim ashore. While doing so. Rubay said to Potai. “I can go no further. [ am done.” Potai replied: “I can’t help you. 1 am the same.” Potai then lost sight of Rubay in the waves. Potai luckily struck the steer oar of the surf boat and with it succeeded in reaching the shore. The natives are searching for the two missing bodies, and the local police have gone to their assistance. Mr. Riddell is a married man with no family. He was very well known in the district. Both natives were married men with large families.