Survival training needed for canoeists

THE Irish Canoe Union yesterday backed a call by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) urging water sports enthusiasts to have basic training in rescue and survival.

A formal report into a double tragedy last year on a tidal watercourse revealed that none of a party-of-six canoeists had training in river rescue.

A dinghy carrying four of the party also capsized as they attempted a rescue of the two canoeists on the River Barrow in Carlow. They were forced to cling to the upturned craft.