BATHING ACCIDENT.
A strange accident occurred at the Ocean Beach last evening, resulting in the death of Thomas Newton, aged twenty-two, son of Mr M. Smith, painter, South Dunedin. He was bathing along with Charles Hannigan and John McTarry, at Lawyer Head, between six. and seven o'clock, and he took a dive in about five feet of water. His head striking the bottom, his neck was broken, and on rising to the surface of the water he was carried out to sea by the breakers. It was only after the lapse of some considerable time that his body was recovered by Messrs Williams and Dodd. Newton was a superior swimmer, and has often taken part in public contests. His parents reside at Akaroa.
An inquest on the body of the deceased was conducted by Mr Coroner Carew at the Pioneer Hotel, St. Kilda, this afternoon.
Dr Brown, who examined the body last evening, stated that he found a slight bruise on the head, and the chin slightly tilted to one side. His attention was directed to the neck, and he found that the upper part of the spine was unusually prominent. The head was also unusually movable, indicating dislocation or fracture of the neck, or both combined. The injuries might have been caused by a dive in shallow water.
John McCarry, laborer, stated that he went with the deceased and Charles Hannigan to the Ocean Beach yesterday afternoon. They first of all had some crayfishing, and then they went to bathe at Lawyer Head. While Hannigan and witness were undressing deceased, who had already stripped, took a dive, saying "Here's one off for America." After he jumped in he turned right round within a space of 4ft, and immediately he was taken out by the water round a rock out of witness's sight. Witness ran to the rock but could not see him. Hannigan afterwards went to look for him, and they came to the conclusion that he was hiding behind the cliffs. After the lapse of some time, during which a search was made for the deceased, the body was discovered floating out to sea. Two men who came to witness's assistance swam out and recovered the body. The police were at once communicated with, and the body was conveyed to the Pioneer Hotel. There had been no quarrelling between the three, nor "skylarking." The water where deceased dived appeared to be between three and five feet deep. [Left sitting.] -Evening Star, 6/1/1887.
FUNERAL NOTICE
THE Friends of the late Mr Thomas Newton are invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave Mr Hutton's Pioneer Hotel, St. Kilda, for the Southern Cemetery, Tomorrow (Saturday), the 8th inst., at 3.30 p.m. HUGH GOURLEY, Undertaker, Clark and Maclaggan streets. -Evening Star, 7/1/1887.
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