Image shows fisherman minutes before drowning

A 52-year-old man who drowned in the sea in Co Clare last year “died needlessly” and had no safety or communications equipment with him.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) yesterday issued its final report into the Nov 2011 tragedy which claimed the life of Latvian national Armands Silins who had lived in Kilrush.

He took to sea near Kilkee in a three-metre Seahawk 11 inflatable dinghy without an engine, personal flotation device, emergency flares or any form of communications.