Canoeists' death prompt safety pleas
People engaged in high-risk adventure sports should undertake basic training in rescue and survival techniques, an investigation into the deaths of two canoeists warned today.
Officials from the Marine Casualty Investigation Board found a large volume of water from a storm had turned the normally placid River Barrow into a fast flowing torrent when Martin Roche and Neil Byrne died on October 30, 2004.
None of the six-person canoeing party had any training in river rescue, and the board was given no evidence they had formal canoeing training.
The board recommended: “All participants in an adventure activity should undertake basic training in rescue and survival techniques in respect of their chosen activity.”
Mr Byrne from Co Wicklow and Mr Roche, from Ferrybank, Co Waterford, were among a group making a trip from Borris, Co Carlow to New Ross, Co Wexford by canoe, when they got into difficulties at St Mullins Weir and the two men drowned.
The River Barrow was swollen with rainwater on October 30, 2004 when the group set out from Borris with two canoes and an inflatable boat.
As the group in the dinghy passed through St Mullins weir at around 5.45pm, they noticed Mr Roche and Mr Byrne had got into difficulties in the canoes.
The officials heard both men were trapped in a ’stopper’, which is a violent backwash of water, and were repeatedly disappearing below the river’s surface.
The report found: “No throw bag was available to the dinghy crew. It had been noted at Borris that it was missing when the gear was assembled prior to setting off down river.”
The rest of the group who were in the dinghy tried to reach the men but it capsized and they made their way to shore to alert emergency services.
The board recommended notices should be placed near all weirs to alert people to the danger on rivers where the sea at high-tide meets a weir.
In a separate investigation into the death of Patrick Murphy off the MFV ’Rosses Morn’ near Seven Heads off Co Cork, officials found the lack of personnel on board and fatigue were major factors in the tragedy.
The wooden hulled fishing vessel went aground on the rocks in the vicinity of Leganagh Point on February 4, 1999 with two crew members aboard, including Patrick Murphy, who had 30 years seagoing experience.
As the boat began to take on water, the two men on board made a Mayday call, put on lifejackets and attempted to launch the six-man life-raft without success. The skipper, David O’Driscoll, said he urged Mr Murphy to jump into the sea but he said “I can’t“.
Mr Murphy is believed to have gone down with the vessel, and his body was never recovered.
Mr O’Driscoll told officials the vessel normally operated with five crew members but one had suffered an injury and the other two had left the vessel at Cobh.
The board found: “The practice of sailing with only two persons from Cobh to Castletownbere was not unusual for the vessel. However, the lack of personnel on board and the fatigue factor was a major factor in the tragedy that ensued.
“If sufficient personnel were on board and rested then the accident should not have occurred. Once the accident did occur there were insufficient personnel to handle the liferafts.”
