DROWNED WHILE BATHING
THE WARRINGTON FATALITY.
Mr H. Y. Widdowson, SM, conducted an inquest yesterday afternoon in the Magistrate’s Court, Dunedin, into the circumstances connected with the death at Warrington Beach on Monday of Agnes Elizabeth Andrew.
Edward Pinder stated that he was principal of the Training College. He knew deceased very well. There was a picnic of the students at Evansdale. Deceased attended at his invitation, as a relative of a student. The party arrived at Evansdale about 10 a.m., and had lunch about 12 o’clock. After lunch some of the party walked over to Warrington. About 50 went over, and included in the number was deceased. The party went over for the purpose of bathing in the surf. Most of the number, including deceased, were bathing for 15 or 20 minutes, and seven or eight got into difficulties. There were cries for help. Those in trouble all got out with the exception of deceased. It was a very irregular sea. Witness was bathing with the party. A succession of quiet water prevailed, and some of the party got out. There must have been a tremendous backwash. Witness was helping one party, and then went out to help another party. He saw a body tumbling about in the surf, and with assistance recovered the body. It was that of deceased. He thought it was a swimmer in distress, and it was not so important with a swimmer as with a non-swimmer. Witness took out a lifebuoy to where Mr Lockhart was assisting. He got bold of the body and was pulled ashore with a life-line. The body was a long way out. He had not noticed any backwash, but there was a terrific one when they were coming in. Artificial respiration was resorted to and was continued for three hours, but without any good result. Dr Buchanan came towards the end. Witness had never heard of any accident happening there before. They were about 200yds from the usual bathing place, and towards Waitati. The lifebuoy was got very promptly, but it took some time to get one out through the surf. Deceased must have got swept to one side, and outside witness. She was in good health, in good spirits, and seemed to be enjoying the bathe. She was about 17 years of age. The whole thing happened very suddenly. Witness could only put the accident down to a sudden change in the sea. At middle or high tide there would be nothing like the same condition, in the opinion of witness.
Dr Buchanan said he was called about 3.50 p.m. He proceeded to Warrington Beach by motor car, and found deceased lying on the beach. She was lying on rugs and was surrounded by hot-water bottles. Six girls were rubbing the limbs of deceased, and a man was administering artificial respiration. Deceased gave every sign of asphyxiation. There was no indication of life. Witness gave deceased two injections of strychnine. Efforts to resuscitate deceased were continued for an hour. Everything possible had been done. There was no doubt but that death was due to drowning. The beach was always considered an absolutely safe beach for bathers.
John Lockhart, Training College student, said he was at the picnic. He did not know deceased. He was bathing on the beach, and at the end of a quarter of an hour there seemed to be trouble. It appeared to be a safe beach for bathing. He had bathed there at ebb tide. It was a heavy and irregular sea that was running, but nothing to cause any alarm. About 50 persons entered the water, and a considerable number stood and looked on. Witness and his brother went in about 50yds to the left of the others. They swam a good way out, and returned to the shore. They found it hard work. Witness heard Wilkinson shouting for help, he (witness) then being in the water. He saw Pinder swimming in with three girls, and Wilkinson and a girl together in the water. Wilkinson was helping the girl. They were nearly 100yds out. Witness swam to them, and Wilkinson told him to take the girl. She was very excited. She had lost her head. Witness seized the girl by one arm and held her up. Witness’s brother had come out, and he took Wilkinson, who was in difficulties himself. He took him ashore. Witness tried to take the girl ashore. He took her in within 30yds of whore the buoy was. They then got into very heavy surf. Witness struggled to get through the surf with the girl, but could not succeed. He became exhausted and had to let the girl go and the breakers separated them. The girl had quietened down. Witness saw others making for the girl, and thought they would get her. He got ashore with great difficulty. Witness was put to bed at his sister's house. He was black in the face then. He was back at the beach in half an hour, and they got the girl ashore, and were trying artificial respiration. Those in the water who were close in shore were in difficulty too. Wilkinson was in only 4ft of water and was swept out. There was a big undertow.
George Ernest Wilkinson, student at the Training College, said he was assisting a girl in. Witness was in about 4ft of water, and, finding the backwash very strong, turned to go ashore. He heard a cry, and, looking round, saw a girl several yards out. She appeared to be swimming, and witness went to her assistance. She seemed to be in an hysterical state. He got her quietened down, and tried to keep her head above water. He did not seem to make much headway with her, and called for help. Lockhart then came to his assistance, and Lockhart's brother helped him (witness) ashore.
Constable Connor also gave evidence, stating that Warrington Beach had always been considered a safe beach for bathers. A verdict was returned that death was due to accidental drowning, the Coroner throwing out a suggestion to any society interested in such matters that they might consider the advisability of erecting a warning board at Warrington. -Evening Star, 11/3/1920.
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