Olive Hilton Billings, (1898-4/1/1922). "both out of their depth"

DEATHS.

BILLINGS. — On the 4th January, 1922, at Brighton (result of an accident), Olive Hilton, beloved only daughter of Mr and Mrs Frederick W. Billings, of St. Albans street, Kaikorai; aged 23 years. Deeply mourned. Private interment. — Hugh Gourley, Ltd., undertakers.   -Evening Star, 9/1/1922.

DROWNING FATALITY

BODY FOUND NEAR BRIGHTON. 

The body of Miss Olive Hilton Billings, who was drowned near Brighton on Wednesday last, was recovered yesterday afternoon a short distance from the spot where the fatality occurred. It was floating in the water close to some rocks, and was brought ashore. 

Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M. (coroner) held an inquest at the Morgue this afternoon. 

Frederick William Billings, woollen mill employee, residing at the Kaikorai, identified the body as that of his daughter, who was twenty-three years of age last month. She lived with witness and his wife, and was a healthy young woman. Deceased went to Brighton a fortnight ago for the holidays. She could not swim. Witness was away fishing on some rocks when his daughter was drowned. She was employed as a weaver at the Roslyn Mills. 

Catherine Margaret Poupart said that she went for a bathe with deceased last Wednesday morning. They had had their bathe, and were wading back through the surf, witness being in front, when deceased called out. She seemed to be in a hole, and the waves were breaking over her. Witness went back and caught her. Deceased, who was moaning, caught hold of witness by the neck. Witness got deceased's hand away, and then caught her by the body. She swam with her a little way. They were both out of their depth at the time. She was too heavy for witness, and, being on top of her, pushed witness under. She did not remember much more. They became parted, and witness found herself swimming away without deceased. Witness was pretty well exhausted by the time she reached the beach. When she last saw deceased she was going out to sea. 

John McIndoe gave evidence as to bringing the body ashore yesterday afternoon with the assistance of a Mr Garden. 

The inquest was proceeding at 2.45 p.m. 

The coroner returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally drowned while bathing at Seaview, near Brighton. He said that Miss Poupart was to he commended for her gallant action in attempting to rescue deceased. He added that she might very well have been drowned herself. He sympathised with the relatives of deceased.  -Evening Star, 9/1/1922.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.