DIVER VANISHES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1939, Page 6

DIVER VANISHES

MYSTERY ON AUSTRALIAN COAST.

MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY SEA MONSTER.

The piysterious disappearance of a ■Japanese diver, Muneo Matsumoto,, aged 17, from inside his diving gear at a depth of 78ft. near Darnley Island has been reported to Inspector F. H. Mclver, officer in charge of the Cairns (North Queensland) police district. According to statements by the crew, Matsumoto, who was wearing only a helmet and corselet, descended 31 fathoms to collect shell, but he found the tides too strong and signalled to be hauled to the surface. Shortly afterwards he complained of numbness, and Captain K. Higashi, thinking he was suffering from a slight attack of paralysis, ordered him to be lowered to 13 fathoms under an air pressure of 175 lb. per square inch.

A few minutes later Matsumoto failed to respond to signals, and when Captain Higashi descended to investigate he found the helmet and corselet empty and the diver gone. Although the crews of nine other luggers assisted in the search, no trace was found of the body. The Japanese believe that Matsumoto was either taken by some sea monster, such as a huge groper or a shark, or threw himself out of the diving gear in a paroxysm of pain.