Two die in separate drownings

The communities of Portumna and Terryglass, seven miles over the border in North Tipperary, were plunged into shock and mourning following two separate deaths on Lough Derg on Tuesday evening.

A 41-year-old Portumna man is believed to have drowned after going for a swim in the Shannon off Tiernascragh. It is understood he went swimming with a younger brother and friend after spending a day on the bog.

He got into difficultly at about 6.15pm and the emergency services were called into action. The RNLI and Killaloe Coast Guard were launched and a body was recovered near Cappafallagh at approximately 9.40pm.

Shannon Search and Rescue were also involved. A search and rescue helicopter – which came from Waterford – helped in the operation and Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene. The man’s body was taken to Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, for a post-mortem operation.

Meanwhile, a second man, from Terryglass who has links with Portumna, also passed away in a tragedy on the lake on Tuesday.

It is believed the man, in fifties, became unwell during his swim and may have suffered a heart attack. The tragedies occurred within an hour of each other, and roughly just two miles apart. Their names are not being released until all family members are informed.

Galway East Fianna Fáil TD, Anne Rabbitte said the people of Portumna and Terryglass are shocked and numbed by the double tragedy.

But Deputy Rabbitte said the communities were also “livid” that Portumna search and rescue boat wasn’t launched.

“It is the closest boat to these two incidents. The boat is fully operational and it is staffed and the staff are trained. It is a valid question – why was Portumna search and rescue never called following the 999 call?

“The Portumna boat was not deployed. People here are livid about this. We are being told that the boat is fully operational and yet it wasn’t activated,” she said.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.