STRONG CURRENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 7, 6 December 1926, Page 6

STRONG CURRENT

BATHER DROWNED. VAIN ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE DUNEDIN, Dec. 4. At the inquest on the body of Henry Stephen Baker, who was drowned at Tomahawk on November 7, and whose body was recovered yesterday, James Bannister Simpson said that on November 7 he was at Smaill’s Beach with a party, including Henry Stephen Baker, at about 11.45. Five of them went in for a swim, all being able to swim round the island, and then he found the current was taking him out too far, so he made to como back, a task which took about aquarter of an hour. He did not see the others as he came back. He was talking to a girl on the beach when he looked out and saw Cox and Baker about 100 yards out He went out to Baker and asked if he was all right. Baker said he could not get inshore. Witness tried to tow him, but could not manage it. McKewen coming out to lend a hand, they both tried to bring Baker in, but the waves were too strong and were taking them out all the time. McKewen told witness to go for a rope, and he would try to hold Baker up. Going inshore he found the current very strong, and it took him about a-quarter of an hour to get out, and he was about exhausted. Wootton grabbed him and assisted him out. Witness then became unconscious. When he came to Wootton was going in with a rope. Baker was a good swimmer. The bathing costume at the morgue was similar to the one Baker was wearing. _ Sergeant Murray said that at o p.m. yesterday he went to Tomahawk Beach with Constable Watkins, and found the trunk of a body lying on the sand near the rocks. He had it removed to the morgue and the bathing costume was taken off. There had been no one reported missing from the locality for about eighteen months. The remains had obviously been some weeks in the water. , The Coroner said he was satisfaed that the body was that of deceased. He then adjourned the inquiry until Monday.