Father drowns after attempting to help teens caught in strong current

A heroic father drowned after jumping into seas off the Wexford coast after two of three teenage boys got into difficulties while swimming.

The accident occurred at 12.40pm in the holiday village of Courtown on Saturday when three 14-year-old boys went for a swim in the mouth of the harbour — one of whom was his son.

The man, named as 39-year-old James O’Reilly, from Cabra in Dublin, dived into the icy waters, when he saw the teenagers getting into difficulty.

Mr O’Reilly had travelled to the resort with a group of youngsters who were to take part in a football match at the weekend.

Three boys went for a swim at around 12.40pm.

However, the strong currents started to sweep one of the teenagers out to sea, and Mr O’Reilly entered the water to try to rescue him. During the rescue attempt, Mr O’Reilly also got into difficulties, and emergency services were alerted to the incident by onlookers.

There were chaotic scenes as lifeboat teams, gardaí, ambulance services, and a Coastguard helicopter descended on the popular North Wexford seaside resort.

Members of the RNLI lifeboat team, who were sitting exams in the local boathouse, were in the sea within minutes.

A dingy from the local sailing club and the RNLI’s Sea Safari charter boat were first on the scene and all four people in the water were taken from the sea, before the lifeboat arrived.

The victim was taken aboard the lifeboat where the crew tried to resuscitate him.

A doctor also tried to assist the victim as his friends waited for paramedics to arrive.

A rescue helicopter from Dublin, along with two ambulances and a number of gardaí, arrived soon after Mr O’Reilly was on dry land but they could not revive him.

The teenagers were treated for hypothermia and shock but did not suffer any serious injury.

Mr O’Reilly was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital where an autopsy took place.