Diver, 25, dies off Wexford coast

A 25-year-old diver has died in an incident near the Saltee islands off the Wexford coast.

Tributes were paid by the Comhairle Fó-Thuinn (Irish Underwater Council) yesterday to those involved in rescue efforts to save their member, named locally as Vincent O’Brien, on Saturday morning.

He was a member of Wexford Sub Aqua Club and one of four people diving at the Saltees. The coxswain on the boat made an emergency call to the Coast Guard when he realised something was wrong.

The Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre told WLRfm it got a call to help an unconscious diver. It is understood he suffered decompression problems after surfacing too quickly.

Richard Thorn, president of Comhairle Fó-Thuinn, said the coxswain had helped the stricken diver as best he could, and the crew of a fishing boat also gave assistance. He thanked them and the emergency services for their prompt response.

The Waterford Coast Guard, Kilmore Quay lifeboat, and the Kilmore Quay Coast Guard were involved in the operation.

The man was given CPR and airlifted to Waterford Regional Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, a man was taken uninjured to safety by Naval Service crew but his pleasure craft sank after a fire at sea off Kinsale.

The 10m motor cabin cruiser went down despite the firefighting efforts of crew from the LE Niamh and RNLI Courtmacsherry Lifeboat, which responded just after lunchtime on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, Baltimore RNLI’s new €3m lifeboat was named in memory of Alan Massey, whose sister Dorothy’s legacy helped fund the boat along with bequests of Henry and Joan Jermyn, John Noel Harvey Ward, and John Heath.