The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
A young Clare surfer has died following what has been described as a “tragic accident” in the sea off the West Clare coast.
The surfer, who was accompanied by three friends, some of whom are also believed to be part of the local surfing community, went surfing in Lough Donnell beach off the coast between Doonbeg and Quilty between 6.30am and 7am on Monday, July 5.
It is understood that the surfer got into some difficulty while he was in the water, his friends administered CPR and called the emergency services around 8am.
The emergency services arrived and he was airlifted by the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter R115 for emergency medical treatment to University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
He was pronounced dead on Monday afternoon. It is expected a post-mortem will be held in the coming days and a file will then be prepared for the county coroner, Isobel O’Dea.
Clare Gardaí has described the incident as a “tragic accident”.
According to a press statement issued by the Irish Coast Guard, the casualty got into difficulty while surfing in Lough Donnell, Quilty, CPR was administered to the casualty on scene and on route to hospital.
The young man is understood to have been a well known local lifeguard. It is believed that members of his family were contacted to come to the UHL after his arrival in view of his critical condition.
Dan Danaher
