Gardaí in Mayo are investigating the tragic death of a man after his vehicle entered the water at Newport Quay, on Saturday afternoon.
It is the second tragedy involving a car entering water in the county in less than a week following the accidental death of ferry operator Charles O’Malley last Tuesday on Clare Island.
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And it came after the horrific loss of two teenage boys, aged 16 and 18, while swimming in Buncrana, Donegal on Saturday.
The man who died on Saturday has been named locally as Noel O’Reilly, aged in his 60s, from Drimurla, Newport, Co Mayo.
The incident occurred at around 5.30pm with the car entering the water at the Point area of Newport Quay.
It is understood a number of witnesses to the incident jumped into the water and frantic efforts to save him proved impossible.
The rescue operation was co-ordinated by Malin Head Coast Guard who tasked the helicopter Rescue 115 from Shannon as the Sligo helicopter was already tasked in the rescue mission in Donegal.
Westport Coast Guard Unit also responded immediately along with An Garda Síochána and the local fire service.
A search of the area was carried out to ensure there were no other persons were in the water. Following confirmation no other persons were in the car when it entered the water local divers recovered the man’s remains from the submerged vehicle.
His body was transferred to Mayo University Hospital where a post mortem is due to take place to determine the cause of death.
The car was taken from the water shortly after 8pm and the area was sealed off pending a garda forensic examination.
It is understood the deceased is a father of adult children and only lost his wife last year following a long illness.
A source described the incident as “extremely tragic and shocking.”
“There are no words really but this is an agonising loss for the man’s family and was no doubt very shocking for those present,” they said.
“You see the amazing good in people when incidents like this happen and you saw it here yesterday with people trying to help.
“And also our emergency services and first responders were just magnificent yet again and thankfully the poor man’s remains were recovered quickly.”
In Waterford, a single-vehicle collision occurred on the L1020, Ballycoardra, Old Tramore Road, Co Waterford at approximately 2.20pm on Saturday.
One of the occupants of the vehicle, a male in his 20s was pronounced dead at the scene.
His body has since been removed to the morgue, where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.
The driver and another occupant of the vehicle, males in their 20s, were conveyed to University Hospital Waterford for treatment of serious but not life-threatening injuries.
A technical examination has since been conducted by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and the road has reopened to traffic.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward.
Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 2.00pm and 2.45pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Waterford Garda Station on 051 305 300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
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