REDCAR – Drowning Fatality Near Redcar

Accreditation The Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 17/09/1887.

THE DROWNING FATALITY NEAR REDCAR

          An inquest was held at the Swan Hotel, Redcar, on Wednesday afternoon (14/09) before Mr. W. Robinson, deputy coroner touching the death of Alex. Fowler (40), whose body was found near Redcar on Monday night (12/10) as already reported.

          Joseph Taylor, Sneaton, said that about noon on Saturday (10/09) he and a man Alexander Bylander rowed the deceased from Sneaton Snook to near Redcar,

          Witness wanted to land him opposite Messrs Walker, Maynard and Co.’s jetty, but he said, “Land me on the sandbank and I can get over alright.” They landed him opposite the Fifth Buoy light, in a position where he had never been put off before. He was quite sober at the time.

          Thomas Jones, Grangetown, spoke to see the deceased standing on the sandbank with the tide all round him. He was about 300 yards distant. Deceased waved his hat to him. He then went into the water, came out again, went in a second time and then disappeared. He had his boots slung over his neck. It was an inlet of water, but if the deceased had stayed on the sandbank they could have got him off with a boat.

          William Picknett, fisherman, said that he with others found the body on Monday night (12/10) lying face downwards in five feet of water.

          A verdict that the deceased was, “Accidentally drowned while attempting to cross an inlet of water from the River Tees.”