Wick Coastguard Rescues. 

Tragic Drowning.

As reported in unknown newspaper - 29th August 1959

"Young Man Drowned In Disused Quarry."

While a public dance was in full swing in Spittal Hall on Friday night, a young man was drowned in a disused quarry within 100 yards of the hall. The young man - Donald Cormack Bain Wares, aged 23, was a foreman joiner with the firm R. B. Riddell, carpenter at Thurso.

Mr Wares has had drove from Thurso in a motor van along with some friends to attend the dance at Spittal. Shortly after 11.30pm, he went out of the hall. Not long afterwards, tow policemen, who happened to be on duty at the hall, (Constable Robert Kemp and Ronald Ball) thought they heard a sound of splashing in the direction of the quarry.

Shining their torches into the quarry, they saw that the water was disturbed but could see nothing. The alarm was given and the dancers crowded out of the hall around the quarry to help with the search. Owing to the risk of another possible incident in the dark, it was decided to move the crowd back and resume the dance.

The fire brigades from Wick and Thurso had been summoned along with the Coastguards from Wick. The Coastguards had brought searchlights and cliff rescue apparatus as well a grappling iron. Once these searchlights were shone into the quarry was the body located lying on the bottom. Coastguards put a line across the quarry and a grappling iron was used to lift the body to the surface. A fire brigade ladder had been lowered over the quarry face for police Constable James Macbeath secure the body so it could be hauled out of the quarry.

It was reported that Mr Wares had returned from his National Service training only a short time ago.

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