Hundreds salute man who ‘loved life of adventure’

A young man who died in a kayaking accident was remembered at his requiem Mass yesterday as a courageous and fearless leader who lived life to the full.

There was barely standing room at St Patrick’s Church in Bandon, Co Cork, for the funeral Mass of Colm Johnson, 24, from Clancoolmore who died in Norway last week.

The young man was kayaking on the Sjoa river with others when he got into difficulties, going over a six-metre drop.

Hundreds of mourners packed the West Cork church to pay their sympathies to his parents Ann and Moss, brother Alan, sisters Niamh and Síle and his girlfriend, Elaine, on their tragic loss.

A rugby jersey, a kayaking helmet and a book were among the gifts brought to the altar at the beginning of the service, symbolising the young man’s love of rugby, kayaking and reading.

Fr Tom Sexton told the large congregation that Colm was a man of energy, courage and of passion “who brought excitement into the lives of those around him”.

He compared Colm, a keen kayaker since his first year at the University of Limerick, to the great adventurers Edmond Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who conquered Mount Everest in 1953, and said that like them, Colm “needed more” than the dull repetition of routine.

“What happened last Monday was not due to any mad rush of blood to the head. He was a man who had trained, a man who was experienced and a man who had taken on the challenge of the ravine in Norway with his kayak so that he too might conquer it.

“Unfortunately a freak set of circumstances tilted the balance against him.”

His sister Niamh broke down in tears at the end of a moving tribute to her younger brother who, she said “loved the life of adventure that kayaking offered”.

“Colm, your laughter and infectious smile will never be forgotten.... your body may be gone but you spirit and memory will always be with us. We love you,” she said.

Niamh also paid tribute to the four kayakers who were with Colm at the time of the accident.

“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for looking after Colm in the aftermath of his accident and all the attempts you made to help him — knowing that Colm was not alone gives us great solace,” she said.