SWIMMING FATALITY
COLLAPSE DURING RACE
HEART FAILURE CAUSE OF DEATH
A SWIMMER COMMENDED.
A tragic happening marred the Kiwi Swimming Club’s carnival at the Municipal Baths last night, resulting in the death of Vera Amandra Jarvis, the thirteen-year-old daughter of Mr W. H. Jarvis, 341 Cumberland street.
The deceased girl had not originally intended competing at the meeting, but her late entry for the 33 1/3 yards schoolgirls’ handicap was accepted, and she swam in the second heat. Halfway through the race she collapsed and sank to the bottom of the baths. Most of the spectators, intent on the race, did not notice her plight, but C. B. Lewis, the breast-stroke champion swimmer, dived in, another man, fully clothed, doing likewise. Lewis brought the girl to the end of the baths in an unconscious condition, and he, too, collapsed, having taken in a considerable amount of water in getting the girl. He quickly recovered, however.
Artificial respiration was tried on the girl without success, it being found, however, that she had taken in very little water. Drs Marshall, De Lautour, and Fitzgerald were called, and worked unavailingly on the girl for over an hour.
THE INQUEST.
The inquest was held at noon before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., at the morgue. Sergeant McEntee conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police.
The father of deceased, John Henry Jarvis, boarding-house proprietor, 341 Cumberland street, said that the girl had suffered from a weak heart from birth, but she had gradually been getting stronger. She last had medical attention in October for her throat. On occasions she suffered slight heart attacks. She seemed to enjoy swimming, and entered for a race at the baths last evening. Witness was present, and noticed deceased throw her arms up near the finish and then sink. A man named Lewis dived in immediately, and there was no delay in getting her out. Three doctors arrived on the scene, but artificial respiration failed. About two years ago Dr Gerald Fitzgerald impressed upon witness that any sudden excitement would not be desirable, but she had been gradually improving in health, and appeared to enjoy swimming, and he did not attempt to stop her.
Dr Roland Fulton said he had attended deceased on several occasions during the past two years. She had a poor constitution and physique, but she appeared to be overcoming both disabilities by a wise indulgence in games. Deceased’s heart never showed any signs of disease during the time he had her under his care. The fatality last evening pointed to an enlarged thymus gland in the throat. Sudden death was liable to occur at any time during excitement from such trouble. The presence of the gland was liable to cause a sudden stoppage of the heart during exertion or excitement. Witness knew deceased had taken part in swimming, but it did not appear to be doing her any harm, so he did not forbid it.
Charles Percival Triggs, a life-saving instructor at St. Clair, said he saw Lewis taking the child out of the water. He watched the finish of the race, but did not notice the girl sink. Immediately the child was taken out, Mr Haig and others tried artificial respiration, pending the arrival of medical aid. There were five competitors in the race in which deceased participated.
Cecil Bacon Lewis, a draper, said he was a competitor at the baths last evening. He saw the race from start to finish, and noticed deceased about 10yds behind the others. When threequarters of the length of the baths had been covered she broke in her stroke, and witness realised that there was something wrong. Deceased threw up her hands and sank to the bottom. In the meantime he divested himself of his clothing and dived in. He was about 15yds from deceased. Witness dived into about 10ft of water and picked deceased up from the bottom and swam with her to the side. There were no signs of life, but he could not say definitely, as he was exhausted.
To Sergeant McEntee: Deceased would only be under the water five seconds when witness reached her.
The Coroner said the evidence showed clearly that death was not the result of drowning, but had been caused by heart failure. He commended the promptitude with which Lewis went to the rescue of the child and the efforts made to save her. -Evening Star, 23/2/1927.
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