Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

DROWNING
FATALITY
Oliver Rupert Stanley Morell (33), a serviceman, was drowned in the Shellharbour baths on Tuesday afternoon. He was home from a northern battle station on compassionate leaive owing to the serious illness of his daughter, who died on Boxing Day.
Morell, whose home was in Matravllle, was born in Wollongong. With his, wife and eight-year-old son, he, was staying with his foster sister, Mrs. Prior, of Fairy Meadow. The party had gone to Shellharbour for the day. Early in the afternoon Morell dived into the baths and swam out a short distance. He then called to his son to dive in. The boy, who could swim did so, and swam out to join his father. Just as he reached his father the latter sank beneath the surface. The boy called out and the ladies, seeing that something was amiss, called for help. Dr. Short, of Blayney who is on holidays, was nearby and only removing his shoes, dived in and brought Morell to the, side of the baths. Artificial respiration, was applied and the Kiama ambulance arrived and conveyed the body to the Wollongong District Hospital, where it was placed in the iron lung. Morell, however, failed to respond and life was pronounced extinct. In view of the unusual clrcumstances, the deputy coroner (Mr. W.S. Musgrave) ordered a post mortem, and
the finding will be disclosed at the Inquest to be held next Tuesday morning.
' A military funeral was accorded the deceased yesterday, the remains being interred in the military section of the new cemetery at Kembla Grange.