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From the archive: Eight lost in bathing accidents
From The Times: July 24, 1925
Three bathers, two men and a woman, were drowned off the Côte des Basques to-day.
One of them, Mrs Albert Williams, wife of an Englishman, having ventured beyond the limits where the bathing is considered safe, was warned by a whistle from M Carcabues, the swimming master, who is entrusted with keeping a watch over the bathers. Unfortunately the warning was not heard, and suddenly Mrs Williams struck violently against a rock and sank. Her daughter went to her assistance, but failed to secure her, and was herself only rescued just in time by M Carcabues, while another bather, Mr James Gennet, an artist, of London, who also endeavoured to give assistance, in his turn disappeared.
After bringing Miss Williams to safety, M Carcabues again returned to the rock where Mrs Williams had disappeared, and succeeded in securing her and also Mr Gennet, and in fastening them together with a rope in order to bring them back to land; but the force of the waves beating on the rocks was so great that the cord broke, and the heroic rescuer was himself swept away with the other two persons, all three being drowned. Two of the bodies have been recovered, but that of M Carcabues has not yet been found.
● An Aberystwyth message states that three Boy Scouts, of Winsford (Cheshire) Troop, have been drowned. The troop arrived at Aberdovey to camp on Saturday, and a bathing parade took place on Wednesday afternoon, a bathing picket and three lifebelts being ready. The spot was considered safe. There was a shout for help, and Captain Richard Bell, a local man, put out in a motor-boat to assist. The boys appeared panic-stricken, and nine were taken from the sea in a collapsed state.
A roll-call proved that Raymond Stringer (19), William Hough (13), and George Egerton were missing. Despite the patrolling of the shore till midnight by residents and Scouts, no trace of them was found.
While bathing in the Thames Leonard Johnson (12), of Wedderburn-road, Barking, was drowned. William Cuthbert (18), an engineer, was drowned while bathing at Withernsea yesterday in the presence of his fiancée.
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