A SAD drowning fatality occurred at the Weir’s Bridge, Enniskillen on 7th inst., when William John Chambers, aged 18, from Rossmacawhinney, but who has been for the last three years an assistant in Messrs. Kirkpatrick Bros., Enniskillen, lost his life.

Evidence was given at the inquest on Friday, by Hugh Nixon, a motor mechanic in Mr. Humphrey’s garage, who said he was out bathing with the deceased, whom he knew very well.

They left about 8.30am to bathe at Derrychara. He (witness) went in to bathe first. They had only one bathing costume between them.

When he (witness) came in, the deceased went out, and when he was out at about three yards’s distance, he shouted: “‘It is treacherous.”

Witness watched him for some time, then put on his clothes. On looking round he saw Chambers disappearing and bubbles rising. He saw nothing after that.

Shouted for help

He slipped off his trousers and dived in. He felt deceased with his hand, but was unable to get him out. He then shouted for help and a soldier who was in a boat came over and dived in several times, but could not find him.

He (witness) then reported the matter to the police and afterwards went back and helped to get the body out of the water. He did not think deceased could swim although he was a fine, healthy boy. He (witness) could not swim himself.

The Coroner said it was a very dangerous spot. The jury were of the opinion that the witness had done his best to recover the body under the circumstances.

Sergeant John Harte, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, stated he was in a boat with two others fishing about 20 yards from where the accident happened.

He heard the man on the shore shouting and he went over and dived into the spot where the deceased had gone down, but could not see or feel deceased anywhere.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased had met his death by accidental drowning, and passed a vote of sympathy with the relatives.