Killary Harbour fatality - Ireland

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

DandyDon

Umbraphile
ScubaBoard Supporter
Messages
54,218
Reaction score
8,340
Location
One kilometer high on the Texas Central Plains
# of dives
500 - 999
Man dies in diving accident near Killary Harbour - Irish Mirror Online
A popular father of two has died died in a diving tragedy.
The man, in his early fifties, from Castlebar in Mayo, was diving with a number of colleagues near Killary Harbour, Co Galway when he got into difficulty amid strong winds and torrential downpours.
His colleagues raised the alarm when he failed to surface.
He was found by the coast guard and brought to Galway University Hospital at around 2.30pm.
The man was a keen fisherman and diver and was actively involved in Castlebar Rugby Club.
News of the tragedy reached Castlebar just as locals were beginning to celebrate the town’s victory over Breaffy in the senior GAA football county final.
Castlebar councillor, Michael Kilcoyne, said: “This has certainly cast a cloud over any celebrations."
 
Hi,


I am new here - just registered to post in this thread - it happened I was there, in Killary Harbour when this happened and want to clarify something as the article from Irish Mirror is rather misleading.
First of all - I am not experienced diver -was in Killary to do my AOWD certification and I dont know what was the cause of accident but I do know that it didnt looked as described by press.


1) There was no strong winds and torrential downpours actually Sunday was rather nice day - yes country (and Europe) was under very strong winds and torrential downpours but Killary Harbour is a very well shelter area - it is the only Fjord in Ireland and all the mountains around offer really good shelter. Conditions were ok sea was just a little choppy but nothing that anyone diving in Ireland wouldnt experienced 100's of times. By reading Irish Mirror once could think that weather conditions had something to do with it - not true. There were 2 or 3 other diving boats in area.


2) His colleagues indeed rised alarm when he failed to surface - HOWEVER as far I can tell (and all I tried to do was to stay out of the way) he was brought a shore by his colleagues on their boat - they were performing CPR on him all the way back.


3) Once a shore - other clubs jumped into the action and everyone qualified or experienced enough was helping with CPR/emergency procedures. At this stage coast guard and emergency services were called in. Also one of the boats was called as they had AED device with them and an experienced paramedic. They returned to the harbor in no time jumped out and brought AED also their expert was underwater at the time but they did returned and brought her back within minutes.


4) And people from that club took complete control over the situation, they were on the phone to Coast Guard - guiding the helicopter that has been dispatched, they were coordinating the CPR and pick up point for the helicopter.


5) They had all necessary equipement - they moved the victim to the pickup point, launched orange flares and continued with the CPR until arrival of rescue and until the victim was airlifted.




Myself - I dont know what was the cause of this accident - I think we wont know till post mortem - but he definitely wasnt abandoned and coast guard didnt have to look for him. Also everyone on shore was trained and they exactly knew what to do - and they were doing it - especially people from that club/boat that was called in - I think they were Dalkey (?) based club. If I was ever to be in any kind of accident (touch wood) - and if I could choose I would really really like to have these divers around.
 
Sometimes it seems like the news just makes up stories. Thanks for sharing with us.
 
Frogman, thank you for providing clarification that was in this case so clearly needed. It is much appreciated that you took the time to come on and provide the kind of information you did.
 
Back
Top Bottom