BOAT CAPSIZES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 422, 1 May 1937, Page 6

BOAT CAPSIZES

CONSTABLE DROWNED Fatal End To Shooting Expedition Press Association —Copyright. Auckland, April 30. A police .constable stationed at Port Chalmers, who was spending his (Gave at Mercer, was drowned wh>en the boat in which he and a companion were going to a duck shooting stand on the Whangamarino stream capsized this afternoon. The victim was Gordon George Me'dhurs’t, aged 29, a married man, whose wife is spending a holiday at Ohakune.

In company with Alfred Parrish, of Northcote, Mr. Medhurst set off in a small duck boat from Mercer w’ith the intention of visiting the shooting location, which was situated on the stream aboult three miles from its mouth. However, before the stand was reached the boat overturned, the occupants being flung into the water. Mr. Parrish struck out for the bank, which he reached after an arduous swim in an exhausted condition, but Mr, Medhurst almost immediately disappeared. ■, I When equipment was obtained from Pukekohe dragging operations were commenced by the police to-night, and Mr. Medhurst’s body wus recovered near the scene of the capsize at 9 o’clock. Mr. Medhurst, who was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Medhurst, Bombay, was born at Cambridge and joined the police force seven years ago. At the tiiiiie of the fatality he was spending ia holiday with his brother, Mr. S. Medhurst, Mercer, where his wife was 'to have joined him after her visit to Ohakune.