FATAL ACCIDENT AT OAMARU.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 258, 9 January 1873, Page 6

FATAL ACCIDENT AT OAMARU.

On Friday evening, the 27th ulfciow, a man named Charles Henry Donnelly, aged 37 years, went to bathe in the Oamaru Creek Lagoon, and after swimming about for a short time was seen by several to disappear as though diving, and afterwards to rise to the surface and strike out for the shore, apparently in an exhausted state. In a few seconds he again sank, and did not rise afterwards, until the body was recovered by Mr Edward Booth, who, having been attracted to the spot by the cry of •• Man drowned," dived down, aud sneceeded in bringing the unfortunate man to the surface. A man named John ' Parkinson, in the employ of Messrs Walkem and Co., had previously dived two or three times without finding the body. An inquest on the, body was held before T. W. Parker.' Esq., Coroner, sit the Northern Hotel, en Saturday afternoon. Mr Andrew King deposed .that on the evening mentioned, about seven o'clock, be went to the Lagoon for a swim, and saw the dedeceased, whom he knew by sight, sitting on the shingle bank undressing. He asked him if he was going to have a swim. He replied that he was. He afterwards saw the deceased go up the creek about 80 >ards, and plnnge in. He appeared to swim well for about 30 yards, and to be coming back to where his clothes nad been left. 'When about 20 yards from that spot he went down without a struggle, as though diving, and came up again in a few seconds, and swam a short distance, apparently exhausted, his head being only half >ut of the water, and then sank without making a sound. He (witness) saw the body in about 20 minutes afterwards brought to tbe surface by Mr Edward Booth, who had dived down in order to recover it. Another person, whose name he did not know, had previously made the attempt, but without success. Dr Wait was present when the body was recovered, and after examining it, declared life to be extinct. When he (witness) spoke to the deceased he did not appear to be particularly drunk, but seemed as though he had been drinkin >, and was half mad. When he saw him sink he (witness) wai half dressed, and did not think lie was a pufficiently good swimmer to dive after him ; bat with others he set to making a flax rope in order to do so. Edward Jackson, who was present on the occasion, gave similar evidence to that of King. Dr Wait deposed to the effect that he was present when the body of the deceased was brought ashore He examined the body, and found that life was extinct. He tried to create artificial respiration, but without success. He thought that death had aris n from ensestion of the brain, as, had the deceased been seized with cramp, be could have cried out He knew Donnelly to be a hard drinker, having several times attended him at the gaol when he was suff-ring from the effects of drink. Sergeant Smith stated that deceased had been frequently committed to gaol for drunkenness. The jury, after a f ew minutes' consultation, brought in s verdict,, of. "Accidentally drowned while bathing in the Oamaru Creek Lagoon."— Times.