Warning to boat owners after man drowned

PASSENGER boat owners have been urged to carry out thorough risk assessments on their vessels and ensure there are clear safety announcements after a man fell through a guard chain and drowned during a trip on Lough Derg.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board made the recommendation following its investigation into the death of 32-year-old Thomas Dalton from Ballingarry, Co Tipperary.

Mr Dalton was one of 36 passengers along with three crew members who took an evening lake cruise onboard the 40-year-old Ku-Ee-Tu vessel on July 9, 2005.

According to the board report, while some of the passengers remained in the midship area of the vessel close to its master, named only as Mr Knight, others including the deceased sat next to the chain guard on the starboard side.

“At some time during the cruise, Mr Dalton decided to sit on the chain guard on the edge of the vessel,” the MCIB report said.

At about 6.30pm, another vessel, the Marianne, passed the Ku-Ee-Tu and the Marianne’s owner could see a person “adopting a swinging motion like he was sitting on a swinging chair” on the chain of the other boat.

In was in the next 15 minutes that Mr Dalton fell overboard.

The boat’s master, Mr Knight, said he saw the feet, hands and top of Mr Dalton’s head disappearing over the side and stopped the boat as soon as he was sure he was clear of the stern.

According to the MCIB report, both a lifebuoy and a life jacket were thrown to Mr Dalton but he did not reach for them.

“Mr Dalton was then seen to slowly sink below the surface of the water. Mr Knight meanwhile donned a lifejacket and entered the water to search for Mr Dalton but could not find him,” it said.

Emergency services were alerted but it was further six days before the dead man’s body was recovered close to Ryneduff Point, Tipperary.

The board’s report concluded that Mr Dalton had fallen overboard after screws securing the chain guard on which he was sitting broke.

The board made a number of recommendations, primarily that it was critical there should be “adequate and effective” measures to prevent someone falling overboard accidentally.

“Owners of passenger vessels should be urged to carry out a risk assessment onboard their vessels taking into account its particular layout and the nature of the voyages being undertaken.”