Sponsored by
Limerick fire fighter dived into Shannon river in vain bid to save teenager, 18
AN inquest into the death of a Limerick teenager, heard how a fire fighter with Limerick Fire Service dived into the Shannon River in a brave attempt to rescue her.
Fire fighter Colm McCarthy swam from Poor Man's Kilkee at Howley's Quay on a dark February night in a heroic attempt to save the 18-year-old girl from drowning.
The fire fighter, who has seven years service with Limerick Fire Service, told the Coroner's Court that he could see the woman's hand in the air as he approached her, but when he dived beneath the waves he could not find her.
"I went under water but I couldn't find anything," he said.
After making several attempts to locate her, the fire fighter returned to the river bank when the Marine Search and Rescue boat arrived on the scene.
The emergency services received a call that a young woman had entered the river at around 11.30pm that night.
The coast guard helicopter was dispatched but the woman drowned, and her body was not recovered from the river for another month.
Following a post mortem examination at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy concluded that death was due to drowning and a jury at the inquest found in accordance with the medical evidence.
Coroner Anthony Casey sympathised with the bereaved family on their sad and tragic loss.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South east
