SAD DROWNING FATALITY.
HEROIC ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE.
A sad drowning accident happened in Balclutha on Friday afternoon whereby Archibald McKenzie, aged 21 years, studying at the Balclutha District High School for the teaching profession, lost his life. He and William Currie, Rawiri Wood and Bruce Anderson were bathing in the river behind the township when it was seen that McKenzie was in difficulties. Currie went to his rescue and after several ineffectual attempts to save McKenzie, nearly losing his own life in doing so, had to desist. The alarm was raised, Mr Robertson, the teacher, who was amongst the first to arrive on the scene, immediately dived into the rives and after several attempts succeeded in locating McKenzie's body and bringing it to the surface. By this time Dr. Stenhouse had arrived, and later Dr. Mellroy, and artificial respiration and other means of resucitation were resorted to and continued for over two hours without any result. Deceased had been fully 25 minutes in the water before his body was recovered.
It appears that a number of the senior boys at the school, as well as others in the township, are in the habit of bathing at this particular place, which is just at the steamer steps where Elizabeth street joins the river, behind what is known as Sievewright's. On Friday afternoon the deceased, along with Bruce Anderson and Norman Yorston, left the school about a quarter past three and went over to this part of the river. William Currie and Rawiri Wood followed them in about half an hour. When the two latter had arrived the others had been in for a bathe. Wood and Currie undressed and also went into the water about 30 "yards above the steps, and swam down in the current to a shallow about 1-50 yards down the stream, leaving the others in the water at the steps. Currie and Woods walked up the side of the river and rejoined the deceased and Anderson, Yorston by this time having left. Currie, Wood, Anderson and deceased then walked up the river side to the 30 yards point, where they all got into the water, and swam down to the steps. They all landed at the steps, walked up the river side again, and were repeating the previous swim. McKenzie had already done this swim twice before Wood and Currie arrived. On the present occasion Currie, Wood and Anderson arrived at the steps before McKenzie, and on looking round saw he was in difficulties a few feet up stream from where they were, and about five yards from the bank, the water being there about 16 or 18 feet deep. Currie, who was the best swimmer of the three, immediately dived into the water to assist McKenzie, the top of whose head was seen just under the surface of the water. Currie caught him by the head but McKenzie immediately clutched Currie round the neck and the two of them sank together. At the bottom Currie succeeded in freeing himself from McKenzie's grasp and the two of them rose to the surface a short distance apart. Woods and Anderson joined hands and extending out from the bank threw a pair of braces to Currie and McKenzie. These landed near McKenzie's body and within his grasp but he made no attempt to take hold of them. Currie took them with the intention of perhaps getting them round McKenzie's body but he did not succeed in doing so. Currie again got a hold of McKenzie who this time grasped him round the body and once more both sank together. It was a long time — a good many seconds — before Currie reappeared, and Wood and Anderson were apprehensive that the worst had happened. Currie had a terrible struggle under water in freeing himself from McKenzie's grasp, and as he says himself his breath was nearly out and he was "seeing stars." However he succeeded in getting clear, and came to the surface, but McKenzie did not rise again. After a moment's recovery Currie dived again, and succeeded in getting hold of McKenzie's legs, but finding lie could not bring him to the surface he tried to push the body in towards the shore, and did so to the extent of a few feet. Currie after coming to the surface made another dive and caught McKenzie and again managed to push him a little nearer the bank. Currie was now getting exhausted, however, and eventually had to struggle ashore himself in an exhausted condition. Meanwhile Currie and McKenzie had both been carried down stream by (he current a distance of about 30 yards. The three (Currie, Wood, and Anderson) ran down river say 40 yards to a shallow, thinking they might intercept McKenzie's body. In the meantime some younger boys who had been bathing down at the shallow beach had gathered on the scene, and the alarm had been given, word being sent to the people at the saleyards, to Mr Robertson at the tennis ground, to Constable Lopdell. and to the doctors, and a crowd had quickly gathered. As soon as Mr Robertson arrived, he went into the water, made for where the body was last seen, and dived. Keeping his eyes open below water, he searched bit by bit the bottom of the water. The sixth time he went down he saw deceased's leg, and succeeded in bringing the body to the bank. Dr. Stenhouse immediately set about artificial respiration, and' though restoration was practically hopeless, attempts at rescusitation were continued for over two hours. The lungs were filled with air by means of a pump, oxygen was administered, and strychnine injected as a last resource all without avail and without any hopeful signs, and life was pronounced extinct.
It is probable that McKenzie who had already swam down the 30 yards three times, and was attempting it the fourth time, had felt the effects of being too long in the water and had probably sank under the surface and got a mouthful of water before he was noticed by the others when they arrived at the steps. This would account for his never having called out or spoken. He was a poor swimmer, dog-paddled in a more or less upright position, with his head thrown back, the only part showing above water. Probably also in this position the current may have carried his body forward and brought his head under water to begin with. Of the others Currie as may be judged from what occurred, was a good and powerful swimmer. He is a strongly built fellow, a little over 18 years of age, Wood 17 years' is able to swim fairly well, and Anderson, 17 years, is about the same.
The place where they were bathing is not safe except to an expert swimmer. The bank dips down under water to a depth of 18 or 20 feet six yards out from the shore, and there is a four mile an hour current setting out into midstream at five yards from the bank. In. addition the water is very cold, and there are nasty eddies. Further down on the beach where the smaller boys bathe the conditions are safer, there being a fair extent of sloping beach and shallow water, with less current, though there is an element of danger to the too venturesome in an exceedingly warm day like it was on Friday.
Deceased's friends took charge of the body after the inquest, and it was taken out to his parents' residence at Puerua. The funeral took place on Sunday, the Rev. A. Watson officiating. The funeral was the largest in the district for many years. There were about 40 vehicles, 30 horsemen many pedestrians and cyclists. A short service was held at the house, where feeling reference was made to the many sterling qualities of the deceased, and the consolation that .was to be had from the life he lived. With his mother and brother he was at the afternoon service at Puerua on the previous Sunday, and at night he was present at and assisted in the Salvation Army meeting at Balclutha. The coffin was handled at house and cemetery by Messrs W. McElrea, T. G. Robertson. W. H. Harrison, of the Balclutha teaching staff, and Mr D. Watt, Chairman of School Committee. About 16 senior students of the Balclutha School proceeded the coffin into the cemetery, where an impressive service was conducted. Nearly every house in the district was represented, and many came from Balclutha, Milton, and Dunedin. There were many wreaths, amongst them one from the teachers and one from the pupils of the school. Deceased had been studying at the Balclutha School for about a year. He was the second youngest son.
THE INQUEST.
An inquest was held at the Courthouse on Saturday evening at 6 o'clock, before Messrs G. W. Wood, J. P., Acting Coroner, and a jury, consisting of Messrs W. McElrea (foreman), W. Guest, Gideon J. Scott, W. Boyd, Joseph Parker, and A R. Jack.
The body having been viewed,
John Murray McKenzie, brother of deceased, identified the body. Deceased was born at Duntroon on April l8th, 1889. His father was Robert Sutherland McKenzie, farmer, Puerua.
William Currie said that he and Rawiri Wood arrived at the landing (steps) about 10 minutes to 1. They called out, and deceased, Anderson, and Vorston. who were 30 yards further up, swam down to where he and Wood were. Could not say if that was their first swim. Wood and he undressed, and the five of them walked up and swam down. Deceased landed at the steps, but witness and Wood swam down to the beach — about 130 yards. When he and Wood got back the other three were swimming the 30 yards down to the landing again. Yorston left at thispoint, and the other four walked up river again. Deceased went in at the 30 yards, while witness, Wood, and Anderson went a few yards further up. Deceased started first, but the other three passed him about half-way down to the landing. "I reached the landing first, then Anderson and Wood. When I touched ground I looked round, and deceased seemed to be swimming all right, but when I got on the steps and looked round again McKenzie seemed to be in difficulties, floundering about in the water and splashing with his hands. He did not call out or signal. I dived into the water off the step, the top of deceased's head only being visible. I think he had been under water before I saw him. He was on the edge next the bank of the strong current. I caught him by the hair and raised him a little. He clasped me round the neck, and we both went to bottom. I got out of his grasp, and we both rose about 10 yards further down stream. I was then further out in the river than he was. I caught him a second time, and he caught me, and we both sank a second time. But before that Wood and Anderson caught hands and threw out a pair of braces to me. I got the braces. One of the boys slipped through the twig he was holding on to breaking, and had to let go. I got free of McKenzie, and rose to the surface. McKenzie did not come to the surface this time nor again."
A Juryman: What was the depth of water?
Witness: I don't know.
Over your depth? — Oh, yes; a long way.
Witness (continuing): "I went down again, and caught him by the feet, and tried to push him in shore. I think I pushed him a little, but not much. He was not on the bottom; I did not feel the bottom then. The body was floating along under water. I went down again and found the body again, but had to give up as I was exhausted." Witness then detailed the subsequent events, hoping to intercept the body on the sandspit where it would have been carried if it had kept floating, the giving of the alarm, the arrival of people from the salevards, of Constable Lopdell, Mr Robertson, Dr Stenhouse, and others. Constable Lopdell was dragging near where the body was last seen. Shortly Mr Robertson came down the landing, undressed, and eventually recovered the body.
Mr Parker: As a good swimmer do you consider it a safe place to bathe?
Witness: It's safe for a good swimmer.
Mr McElrea: Is there any difficulty getting on to the landing front the water?
Witness: No.
Mr Parker: Was accused a good swimmer? — No, not very good.
Mr Parker: My reason for asking the question is because boys of 14 or under who are not good swimmers may bathe there?
Witness: No boys under 14 go there. Most of the bathing is done lower down at the spit.
Mr McElrea: Was deceased swimming, or simply being carried by the current?
What is the attraction for good swimmers to go to the landing instead of lower down? — They can dive off the steps, and get a longer swim down to the gravel spit.
Mr Scott: Have you any idea how long the body was in the water? — It must have been fully 25 minutes. I think it would be about five minutes past 1 when it happened.
Mr McElrea (to witness): Have you had any lessons in life saving in water! — Yes, I had one lesson.
Ever practised it in water? — No.
You are not aware of anything further that could have been done to save deceased? — No.
How far was the body from the bank when you last saw it? — About five yards, and about 20 yards below the landing.
To Constable Lopdell: I don't think deceased got into trouble through cramp, but was exhausted. Constable Lopdell said that Rawiri Wood was present and prepared to give evidence if the jury thought it necessary. His evidence would only be corroborative of last witness.
The jury did not think it necessary to call him.
Thomas Gilbert Robertson, school teacher, Balclutha D. H. School, said he was at the tennis ground and saw a boy, Ken Wright, running up the street from the Court house, and heard him call out that McKenzie was drowned. Witness ran to the landing, and while stripping asked and was told where the body was last seen. Witness swam down about a chain to the place, and dived about half a dozen times. Found the body, and with the help of' Carrie got it out of the water. By this time several men were at the water's edge, and they carried the body up the bank. As to time, it would be five minutes past 1 when he started tennis, and they played six or seven games, so that it would be about 25 minutes past 4 when Ken Wright told him of the accident. It would take witness five minutes to get into the water, and it would not be more than five minutes after that when he got the body. Made the time about 25 to 5 when he found the body. Dr Stenhouse here said it was 20 minutes to 5 when the body was recovered,
To the Acting Coroner: I at first thought the depth 8ft to 10ft, but on thinking over it I think it must have been 11ft to 15ft, judging by the time it took me to get to the bottom.
Replying further, witness said there were two distinct currents - a shore current and a current striking out. The body was in the former; if it had been in the latter it would have been carried across the river unless stopped.
To Mr McElrea: Deceased was a pupil at the Balclutha District High School, studying for a teacher's certificate.
Constable Lopdell: Speaking as an experienced swimmer, do yoo consider that place safe to bathe? It's perfectly safe for an experienced swimmer. I consider any part of the river safe for an experienced swimmer.
What about cramp in a current like that? - He would be safer in the current than in still water if an experienced swimmer. Deceased was not a swimmer. He could swim about five yards in still water.
In reply to a question, witness said the gravel spit was safe for boys who could not swim.
Mr McElrea: Could a diving plank be provided at the spit? — 'There is one place just above the spit where it might be put, but of course there must be eight feet of water to dive for boys who can swim. There is that at the point indicated, and it is shallow beyond.
Do you think a warning notice at the steps would be of any use? For outsiders only; all the local boys know it's not safe if they can't swim. I have told the boys who can't swim not to go in there. Most of the boys who swim swim from the steps down to the spit.
Dr Stenhouse said he was on the bank of the river two or three minutes before the body was recovered, which was at 20 minutes to 5 by his watch. The surface of the body was very cold, and apparently deceased was quite dead. With the assistance of Constable Lopdell and others, and later Dr McErey, they, however, used the usual methods of resuscitation, including the. use of oxygen and afterwards strychnine injection, for two hours, when they considered it hopeless to continue. Considered the body really dead when it was brought up. In reply to Constable Lopdell, witness said as far as appliances went, and those present were concerned, there was nothing wanting to ensure success.
The Acting-Coroner said this was all the evidence and he did not think the jury would have any difficulty in arriving at a decision. The evidence showed deceased was bathing at a place where it was not safe for him to bathe.
The jury returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally drowned while bathing in the Clutha River. The Foreman added that the jury were of the opinion that the following rider should be added. "That the jury express their admiration of the heroic action of Currie in his efforts to save the life of deceased, and recommend his action for consideration by the Royal Humane Society; also that they consider Robertson worthy of great praise for the expedition with which he located the body and rescued it." The rider was added to the verdict, and Constable Lopdell said it would be attended to by the proper authorities. -Clutha Leader, 14/2/1911.
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