Inquest – Chichester Observer – Wednesday, 22 August 1928

DROWNED WHILE BATHING AT SELSEY. Gloom was cast over the residents and visitors to Selsey by the news of the tragic death of Leslie Lever Slater Runge (18), the Fulham Boy Scout, who on August 8th, while bathing with a number of companions, was discovered to be missing, his body being washed up the tide five days later. The story unveiled at the inquest, held the Selsey Pavilion Tuesday of last week was simple but none the less poignant. Mr F. B. Tompkins (Deputy Coroner tor the Chichester district) conducted the enquiry and the first evidence to him was that of Herbert Thomas Charles Runge, brother of the dead youth, who declared that his father was Charles George Runge of 12, Perrymead Street, Fulham. Deceased. who was a patrol-leader in the 2nd Chelsea Troop Scouts, came to Selsey on the previous Saturday to camp. Scoutmaster to the deceased’s troop, George Richard Mysom, who gave his address as the camp at Manor Farm, Selsey said that on Wednesday August 8th he took six Rovers, together with two "Pickets", to bathe between the "Marine" and the bathing station. Another Boy Carried Out . They had been in the water between four or five minutes and were throwing a football about, when witness happened to turn around and saw that the "picket" had entered the water to help one of the smaller boys, and were walking out with him. Witness started to move towards them, when he heard one of the boys say ’Where's Runge?". Witness then looked for Runge and made enquiries but saw nothing of him. He then told Mr. Hunnisett about it. The last he saw deceased he was about waist-deep the water, throwing back the football which someone had thrown to him. No one had noticed his disappearance, and at no time had witness heard any call or splashing nor did anyone else. The boy could swim about 12 strokes—in fact, he had only told witness the day before. They had bathed at the spot previously. The bathing picket were good swimmers, and they had about four other nice swimmers in the party. Donald Harry Woodhouse Hunnisett, The Hive, Sea Road, Selsey, stated that the day in question he was at the bathing station, run by his father and saw the scouts bathing, and saw them bringing the first boy in. He was told the other lad was missing and he and his father got a boat out and commenced a search, continuing for three-quarters of an hour. The tide was then coming in. There was no sea-weed about, but the water was stirred up very thick. The bathing place was quite safe. They had a notice board at the bathing station warning people to keep to the right of the station, but although the scouts were bathing to the left, they appeared to be all right, as none was out of his depth. Deep Sand Holes.. There were sand-holes there at low tide, some about three feet deep and liable to take anyone of their balance. The water where the boys were was about three or four feet deep. A boat was always kept in readiness at the station and look-out observed. The flood tide was very strong, but in the vicinity there had been about three drowning accidents in the last 20 years. Questioned by the Coroner, Scoutmaster Mysom declared that the boys were bathing from the beach, not the station, and they did not observe the notice board. P.C. Osman spoke as to receiving an intimation that the boy was missing, and to making a search. On Monday August 13th, at about 7.16 a.m., he received a telephone message to the effect that the body was floating on the tide, near the West Beach. He immediately went down to the beach, and saw the body still floating about yards from high water mark. With assistance he hauled the body the shore. It was still clad in a bathing costume. Scoutmaster Mysom identified the body as that of Runge, and it was then conveyed to the Selsey Pavilion. Witness added that it was about mile from the spot where the boys were bathing that the body was found. He expressed thanks to all who had helped him his search. The Coroner, in returning verdict Death from drowning, said there was not much doubt but that the matter was accidental, and no blame attached to anyone. He asked that his sympathy might be carried to the father.