Water warning as two men lose lives in diving accidents

The coastguard has repeated its safety warnings after two men died in diving accidents over the weekend.

The warning comes as weather forecasters predict the mini-heatwave will last until Wednesday at least, with temperatures expected to soar to the mid-20s.

Gardaí and the Marine Casualty Investigation Board have launched separate investigations after the two fatal diving accidents off Cork and Donegal.

John McNally, 45, from Bruff, Co Limerick, died after an incident during a recreational dive off Roches Point in Co Cork on Saturday evening.

The second victim, a 42-year-old Polish national, died after an incident during a technical dive off Malin Head early yesterday.

Mr McNally, a father of one and a member of the Limerick Sub Aqua Club, died after getting into difficulty while diving with a group of up to six people from a six-metre rib off Roches Point.

It is understood he was on a dive boat with members of a Cork diving club on the wreck of a German U-boat in about 26 metres of water — well within the recreational dive limit.

The alarm was raised at 6.08pm when it was reported a diver was in difficulty and had not resurfaced.

Valentia Coast Guard tasked Crosshaven RNLI, Crosshaven Coast Guard unit and the Coast Guard’s Waterford-based Rescue 117 helicopter to respond.

The lifeboat crew raced to the scene with oxygen bottles. Mr McNally was recovered from the water unconscious and a GP aboard the dive boat began first aid.

The dive boat raced back towards shore and met the lifeboat off Camden Fort, a lifeboat crewman transferring to the dive boat and helping with first aid as the Coast Guard unit secured a landing site for the helicopter. The rib continued to Crosshaven where first aid was continued until an ambulance arrived, taking Mr McNally to Cork University Hospital.

He was pronounced dead a short time later.

A postmortem is due to be carried out today.

In Co Donegal a Polish man, 42, died yesterday morning after getting into difficulty during a technical dive with four other divers on a wreck in about 42 metres of water near Inishtrahull, off Malin Head.

The alarm was raised with Malin Coast Guard at 7.50am when it was reported that a diver was making a rapid ascent after apparently experiencing difficulty with his equipment.

The need for water safety warnings was also highlighted after a recent incident in East Cork.

Ballycotton RNLI recovered a homemade kayak made from old election posters and unsuited for use on the water.

A coastguard spokesperson urged anyone engaged in water sports to exercise caution.