DROWNING ACCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1921, Page 3

DROWNING ACCIDENT.

RESCUE ATTEMPT PRAISED. WARNING TO BATHERS. An inquest concerning the death of Alfred Selwyn Boardman, who disappeared in the surf near the mouth of the Waiwakaiho River on Sunday morning, and whose body was found on Thursday, was held yesterday before Mr. A. M. Mowlern, S.M. Senior-Sergeant McCrorie represented the police. Evidence was given by Edward Douglas Boardman, of Fitzroy, brother of the late Mr. Boardman, Follett Carrington, Archibald Owen Huggard (aged 15), Harry Karena (who found the body) and Constable Hadler. It showed that Boardman left his brother’s home by himself to go for a swim. He said he was a good swimmer, but his brother thought he was only a fair swimmer. He was seen by Huggard to enter the sea 300 or 400 yards from the mouth of the Waiwakaiho, and to be diving through the breakers, apparently enjoying himself. Later Huggard saw him throw up his arms and call “Help”.. Mr. Carrington, who was walking on the beach, was called and he entered the surf to attempt a rescue. When he was between 30 and 50 feet away from, Mr. JBoardman a large roller struck the latter. Mr. Carrington watched until it had gone, and anticipated then being able to rescue him, but he did not again come to the surface. Mr. Carrington swam around. the locality, and, after -‘returning to the shore, watched until there was no hope. The beach at this point was described by Mr. Carrington as having a bit of a shelf which dips at low water. At the time of the accident the tide had just turned after low water. The constable described injuries to the arms arid one leg which vtere noticed on recovery of the body. Me. Carrington saw no sign of a shark, a-hd had no idea of there being one in tbfe vicinity. The late Mr. Boardman, his brother said, was 29 years of age, and left a wife and one child, his home having been at Ponsonby, Auckland. He had been wounded in a leg during the war, but it had healed and he was in perfect health. The verdict was to the effect that death was due to accidental drowning. The coroner said there was some suggestion of an attack by a shark. That might have been the case, but he could not say definitely that it was.

The action of Mi’. Carrington was commended by the coroner, who said that he had endeavored to do what was possible, and, but for the fact of the roller coming in and causing the man to disappear at that precise moment, there was no doubt that his efforts would have been successful. The coroner also intimated that he would call the attention of the controlling authority to the danger to bathers that apparently exists at that, part of thp beach in question. Constable Hadler said that the beach was dangerous at the point. Mr. Boardman was the third person who had been drowned there.