On Saturday the 1st of December 1923, Constable McClay, accompanied by two Aboriginal Police Assistants, set off in a small dinghy from Beagle Bay, north of Broome, to recover stolen goods from a small island off Beagle Bay.

Midway between the island and Swan Point, the dingy was caught by treacherous currents and began to fill with water and sank.

All three men commenced to swim to shore but before long Constable McLay became exhausted and drowned.

The two police assistants survived and reported Constable McClay's had drowned.