Wicklow People - 10th October 1908
Approaching Marriage - A marriage will shortly take place between Ethel, daughter of the late Rev. F Austin, Rector of Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, and Mr Robert Finlay Heron, M.A., second son of the late Mr Robert Finlay Heron, F.R.C.S.I. The wedding will take place at Knock Parish Church, and the ceremony will be performed by the bride's brother, Rev. Frederick Austin, M.A., uncumbent. Mr Finlay Heron is the well known town clerk of Blackrock.
Reynolds Newspaper - 15th July 1923
Drowned While Bathing - Mr Robert Finlay Heron, M.A., formerly Town Clerk of Blackrock, Co. Dublin, who had been living in Worthing for about twelve years, was drowned while bathing with his brother yesterday.
Although 71 years of age, Mr Heron was very fond of swimming. He sank before assistance could be rendered, and, although still alive on being brought to shore, he died a few minutes later.
Worthing Gazette - 18th July 1923
Death While Bathing - Plucky Action of a Lady Visitor
A sad bathing fatality occurred opposite Heene Terrace on Saturday. Mr Robert Finlay Heron, M.A., of Pembroke, Rowlands Road, was enjoying a bathe in the presence of his brother, who was sitting on the beach, when he apparently had an attack of syncope. Some lady bathers noticed that he seemed in difficulty, and one of them, Mrs Faxton, although unable to swim, pluckily dashed into the water up to her chin and caught hold of him, while the other ladies helped her form a chain back to the water's edge. When brought ashore Mr Heron was alive, though unconscious, but artificial respiration and other restorative remedies were of no avail, and Dr Morton Palmer had eventually to pronounce life extinct.
The deceased, who was 71 years of age last April, was formerly Town Clerk at Blackrock, County Dublin, for over a quarter of a century; and he was well known in Worthing, where he had resided for many years. Although he did not take any active part in public affairs here, he rendered useful service in variety of ways during the War, being actively associated among other things with the establishment of the National Kitchen in Chapel Road.
The circumstances were reported to the Coroner by Constable Walder, and on Monday afternoon Mr FW Butler conducted an inquiry at the deceased's residence in Rowlands Road.
Formerly a Town Clerk - Formal evidence of identification was given by Mrs Elsie Jane Heron, wife of the deceased, who said he was formerly Town Clerk at Blackrock, County Dublin. He was 71 years of age, and a M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin. He left home on Saturday morning between eleven and twelve o'clock to go for a bathe. He had been a regular bather all his life, but had not been in the water this year till Friday last. The reason he had not bathed before was that he had not been in good health, and she asked him not to. Whenever he bathed he promised her never to go beyond his depth. He had not a good circulation, and he never stayed in the water long. He would occasionally float on his back, but he generally dived in, swam a few strokes, and then came out again.
Samuel Cramrann Heron, of Montpelier Place, Blackrock, brother of the deceased and Secretary to the Municipal Authorities Association of Ireland, stated that he had been staying at Worthing for the past week on a visit to his brother; and on Saturday morning he accompanied him down on the beach for a bathe. He assisted him to put up the tent and saw him enter the water, and he did not notice that there was anything wrong until he saw some ladies rushing into the water to his assistance. Witness was sitting on the beach, and he was a little short-sighted. One of the ladies who had rushed to his assistance, brought his brother back to the water's edge, and there was a call for stimulants and a doctor. Witness got stimulants, and when he returned there was a doctor present. Deceased was quite himself and in his usual good spirits when he went down to bathe. He had not complained of the heat during the previous week; in fact, he seemed rather to like it. He was none the worse for his bathe the previous day, and seemed to enjoy it.
Lady Bathers Chain to Shore - Mrs Irene Faxton, of Brunswick Square, London, a visitor staying temporarily at Chipton, Heene Road, deposed that she was bathing on Saturday morning opposite Heene Terrace when a lady called out to her, "There is a man in difficulty over there." She looked in the direction indicated and saw a man, apparently on his back, in the sea, and with what looked like foam coming from his mouth. Witness ran to his assistance, and when she caught hold of him the water was up to her chin; but some other ladies got hold of her other arm, and together they made a chain to the shore. As she was approaching the deceased she noticed him turn over on his side. When they got him ashore he was just breathing, but not conscious. A nurse who was on the beach tried massage, and did all she could, but he never showed any signs of consciousness. A Coastguardsman also tried artificial respiration, until a doctor arrived and pronounced life extinct. Witness could not swim herself.
Dr A S Morton Palmer stated that the deceased had been a patient of his since March of this year. He had a very severe attack of eczema, and he also complained of palpitation of the heart, which witness associated with dyspepsia. There were no signs of any disease of the heart, however, although there might have been an inherent weakness. Witness saw him on the shingle on Saturday, and he was then pulseless and unconscious, but just alive. Artificial respiration was tried for some 35 minutes, but without result. The limbs were well massaged, and witness injected the most powerful restoratives, but without result. In his opinion deceased had a heart attack due to a fibroid condition of that organ, precipitated by the heat and by his bathing. If it were a case of drowning, witness thought they might have brought him round, as he was still breathing. No doubt he had swallowed a great deal of water, which would interfere with the respiration, but death was due to syncope, accelerated by the heat, whilst bathing.
Plucky Assistance Acknowledged - The Coroner: But if it had not been for the water in his lungs, I take it, you might have brought him round?
Witness: Quite so, but you could not call it an ordinary case of drowning.
Mrs Heron mentioned that once when they were away at Bournemouth her husband fell down and was unable to account for it, but she thought it was a stroke.
The Coroner recorded a verdict to the effect that deceased was accidentally drowned in consequence of an attack of syncope while bathing.
Dr Morton Palmer said he should like to acknowledge the excellent assistance given him by the Coastguardsman and other voluntary helpers in the efforts at artificial respiration.
The Coroner said he was very glad to know it, and he almost regretted that he had not got the help of a jury because they would no doubt have publicly recognised the pluckiness of Mrs Faxton in going into the water in the way she did. She could not swim herself and did not know how deep the water was, but without thinking of the possible consequences to herself she went to the deceased's assistance, and was the means of bringing him ashore.