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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 02 Mar 1957
Page 8 Column 3
Bridge Workman Drowned
Gallant Rescue Bid at Bridgwater
Despite a gallant attempt to rescue him, a workman engaged on construction of the new bridge was drowned in the River Parrett at Bridgwater on Monday.
He was Victor John BINDING, aged 28, a labourer, employed by the bridge contractors, Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Co., Ltd. A married man with one child, aged nearly three, he lived at 2, Old-road, North Petherton.
He was pulling on a rope from a boat when it dipped its bow in the water and overturned, throwing him into the fast-flowing ebb-tide.
A Canadian welder, Peter John NEARY (27), lodging in New-road, Bridgwater, jumped into the river fully-clothed, but BINDING was quickly swept downstream and disappeared under the water.
NEARY, who has been in this country two and a-half years and working in Bridgwater about two months, said later: “I did not see it happen, but heard shouts. I saw Vic hanging on to the rope. I jumped in and thought I would be able to get him.
Boat Overturned
“The boat had overturned and Vic was hanging on to the rope, but the river was twisting him around. He was about 14ft. out from the bank and I was about four yards from him. I had my Wellington boots on. After a couple of strokes and a mouthful of water I was carried down 10 yards and then I could not see him. I had to scramble to the bank. I was going to try again, but he was underneath.”
A strong swimmer, NEARY holds a number of certificates for back-stroke and free-style swimming.
Mr. S. D. R. REDMAN, of 18, Hamp-street, Bridgwater, said that he was standing on the pavement in Salmon Parade watching BINDING trying to put a rope round a pile. He was pulling against the tide and the water started lapping in over the boat, causing it to overturn. He hung on to the rope for three or four minutes. People were shouting and a man jumped in, but BINDING went under.
The police put out a boat at Dunball, but found no trace of the body, which might have been carried out to the Bristol Channel