Members of the local community near Portlick in Co Westmeath have spoken of their devastation after a 15-yr-old boy died after getting into difficulty in Lough Ree.
The alarm was raised at around 7.30pm yesterday evening when a number of teenagers were reported to be in difficulty in the water around Carnakilla Point, close to Glasson village outside Athlone, reports RTE.
The Sligo Coastguard Rescue 118 assisted in the search along with the Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat at nearby Coosan Point on the River Shannon.
Following the search operation, a 15-yr-old boy was recovered from the water and was pronounced dead a short time later, reports RTE.
He has been named locally as Martin Greene from Athlone, Co Westmeath.
His body has been removed to Regional Hospital Mullingar where a post-mortem examination will be carried out, reports RTE.
In a social media post, Martin’s mother said her heart is broken, adding: “My poor baby I love you.”
Martin’s soccer club, St Francis FC Athlone, said everyone at the club is “utterly devastated” to learn of his death, reports RTE.
The club said Martin was the captain of the under-15s team and was “a quiet leader who led by example on and off the pitch with his hard work.”
“Martin was highly thought of by both players and coaches and won the coaches player of the season this year.
“More importantly Martin was a polite, respectful and a lovely young man,” reports RTE.
Local people and holidaymakers camping around the lake have expressed deep shock and sadness at the news of the boy’s death.
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Jimmy Magee and Eamonn Fagan live locally and said there had been a lot of recreational activity with kayakers, paddle boarders and swimmers throughout the afternoon, reports RTE.
Mr Magee said he spotted a helicopter at around 7.30pm yesterday evening.
“So we watched it for a while, and it hovered around and took in this area around the inner lake, and eventually it hovered over one particular area.
“And then we noticed the RNLI boat was doing a search in the water, and eventually then the RNLI boat came into shore, and we could see that there were people camping on the shore.
“That’s such a fine, calm evening, and obviously we knew something serious had happened.
“And then later, the guards and ambulances were on the scene.
“It’s a gorgeous area. Beautiful evening. The water was like glass, so calm.
“But these things happen, and the weather is good. And it’s a terrible tragedy for the family and the area,” reports RTE.
Eamonn Fagan said that a lot of people camp in Portlick where the incident happened.
Mr Fagan sent his sympathies to the Greene family, reports RTE.
“What a terrible tragedy for them today at that loss.
“I’m not sure of what’s happened… But the news broke in the area, and everybody is devastated,” reports RTE.
Carnakilla Point is a popular spot in Portlick, a short distance from Glasson village and about 12km from Athlone where the boy lived.
In a statement, the RNLI urged families to talk about the dangers of swimming and jumping into open water as the hot weather continues, reports RTE.
RNLI Water Safety lead Linda Gene-Byrne said these conversations “can change lives.”
She also pointed to the dangers of cold water shock, saying lakes and rivers might look inviting but remain very cold, reports RTE.
She also advised anybody in danger in the water to fight the panic instinct and remember to “float to live.”
Kim Seavin was out horseriding with friends around Portlick when she heard the news, reports RTE.
“You can never repeat safety messages often enough.
“My own teenage daughter was heading to Banagher in Offaly yesterday and I gave her the whole safety talk before she left.
“It’s really sad to hear of these terrible tragedies whenever there’s good weather,” reports RTE.
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