SAD FATALITY AT WESTPORT.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 January 1918, Page 5

SAD FATALITY AT WESTPORT.

WESTPORT, Jan 15

Mr William Gothard, one of the proprietors of the "Westport Times and Star," and a journalist of many years' standing, went in on the Utopia beach this afternoon. At about 5 p.m. he was seen in the water by others who had previously been bathing there. A little later a lad brought the news that a man's body was lying on the edge of the water, and others came along and recognised it as that of Mr W. Gothard. The body was still warm, and artificial respiration was tried for threequarters of an hour, but without success. The doctor, on arrival, pronounced life extinct, and stated tbat death appeared to be due to heart failure. Th e deceased was a frequent bather on this part of the beach He was 57 years of "age. He joined the "Times and Star" as an apprentice in 1874, subsequently. Becoming part proprietor.