A distressing boating accident occurred in the harbour this afternoon, resulting in the death of a young man named John Shepherd, 26 years of age, fourth son of Mr S. T. Shepherd, of Tyne street. Oamaru. One of the Oamaru Boating Club's four-oared crews, of which Shepherd was stroke, was out training in the harbour, and, in rounding the bend, the boat was swamped. The crew left the boat, but seeing that Shepherd was in distress, his mates kept him afloat until help arrived from the shore. Shepherd was visibly distressed, and had collapsed before the rescue was effected, and although every effort was made to resuscitate him, he died about an hour and a half later. Shepherd went overseas with the 18th Reinforcements, and saw three years' service, and was severely wounded. It is thought that the gas attack he suffered on active service had undermined his powers of resistance, and that he died from the shock of being thrown into the water. -Press, 26/11/1920.
INQUEST.
An inquest was held yesterday afternoon into the circumstances of the death of John Shepherd on Thursday. The Acting-Coroner was Mr A, E. Lawrence, J.P., and the jury consisted of Messrs Jas.Gerritt (foreman), Courtenav W. Brown, A. F. Ralph, and C..L. James. Senior-Sergeant Simpson represented the police.
Alex. Smith Morton, medical practitioner, deposed to being called to the boatsheds beach to attend to John Shepherd. Upon his arrival his heart was feebly beating. Efforts to induce artificial respiration were carried on without avail 'for an hour, the heart gradually weakening till death supervened. The cause of death was asphyxia. Having been gassed at the front would affect the heart and lungs.
Samuel Thomas Shepherd, gardener, of Oamaru. father of the deceased, stated that he was 26 years of age, and born in Oamaru, a grocer's assistant: At 4.40 p.m. on Thursday he received news of the. accident, and went to the boatshed, where his son was lying, he thought dead, while Dr Morton was working on him in the endeavor to restore animation. His son had never spoken of being severely gassed at the front, but he had been wounded. Since his return he had had a cough, and had not been so robust as before.
George Mackenzie, draper's assistant, stated that deceased, whom he know well, was a member of the Boating Club. Witness, with Mitchell, Neal, and Gibb, went out in a clinker four oar, with the deceased rowing the stroke oar. They did one round of the harbor, and had commenced the second. Two successive waves swamped the boat and the next witness knew was that he was in the water. The deceased could swim only a very little. Baxter came over in a. boat and took three of them in, and another boat came out and took in Gibb and the deceased. They had apprehended no risk, having frequently been out in rougher water. Other boats had taken the same course that day. It was left to the stroke of the boat to decide if the water was calm enough to put out. Witness knew of no rules on this point. Had all stuck to the boat they would have had a better chance. There was no skylarking.
Walter O. Gibb, clerk, had known the deceased since he was a boy. Witness was coxswain of the boat. They left the shed at 3.15. There was then no swell, as a westerly wind was blowing, but there was a jobble caused by a gusty wind. They followed the usual course. On the second round the water seemed to be smoother, if anything. When between Sumpter wharf and the red buoy deceased took his feet out of the footboard straps and witness told him to put them back. Deceased took his feet out a second time, and the boat lost way. A wave struck the boat and came into it. The deceased stood up and leaped out into the sea. The boat lost its balance and then the others jumped out. The deceased took a few strokes and then turned round, but did not get back to the boat. Witness dived under the boat, and went to his assistance. By the time he got to him, about 20 feet, the deceased had gone under once. The deceased grasped witness with his hands and legs and both went under twice. They went under again, fairly deep, and then the deceased's legs relaxed, allowing witness to swim again. On reaching the surface witness caught him under the armpits. Witness then endeavored to regain the boat, which was now some distance away. The others were on the boat, with the exception of Neal, who had come to assist witness, but had to go back. It seemed fully 10 minutes before a rescue boat reached them and witness and Shepherd were taken aboard. Witness was thoroughly exhausted, and lay in the bottom of the boat. He could say little of Shepherd's condition at that time. Smith and Logan later made efforts to resuscitate the deceased, on the way to the shore.
To the Coroner: So far as witness knew there was nothing to debar non-swimmers from membership.
The Acting-Coroner reviewed the evidence, and after a short retirement, the foreman or the jury announced that the verdict was that death was due to accidental drowning in the swamping of a boat in the harbor. The jury added a rider to the effect that the officials of the Oamaru Boating Club should instruct all members as to the means to take in case of accident. Junior members should be taught to swim. The jury heartily commended the witness, Walter Gibb, for risking his life in his endeavors to save Shepherd.
The Acting-Coroner said that he heartily concurred in the rider added by the jury. There seemed to be little control over the boats going out in unsafe climatic conditions. He had seen frail boats outside the harbor under conditions which were tempting Providence. Too many risks were being taken in and outside the harbor. The plucky action of the witness, Walter Gibb, who had risked his life in what must have been a desperate endeavor to save Shepherd was worthy of the highest commendation. -Oamaru Mail, 27/11/1920.
Oamaru Cemetery.
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