No indication terrible events were unfolding at Inch beach

It was the end of another day which had, up to that point, been uneventful for the lifeguards. Just after 7pm, they were routinely taking down the flag at a popular strand in the south-west.

Out of the corner of his eye, one of them spotted something that just didn’t seem right in the water. Somebody was in trouble. They sprinted a little over 100m to the edge of the surf and saw two women in difficulty.

The lifeguards waded in, up to abdomen level, to carry out a rescue and had the women on the strand without delay before they started CPR.

It was a calm evening on Inch Strand, in the Dingle Peninsula. The tide was coming in and, given the benign conditions, there was nothing to suggest a terrible tragedy was unfolding.

Heroic efforts to revive Sr Imelda Carew, 67, and Sr Paula Buckley, 70, both members of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, were unsuccessful. They were airlifted by Coastguard helicopter to Kerry General Hospital, Tralee, where they were pronounced dead.

They have been described by their order as wonderful and inspiring women.

Sr Imelda, was based in Terenure, Dublin, and was the order’s provincial leader for the south-east, while Sr Paula was based in Clondalkin, Dublin. In recent years, Sr Paula was also attached to the Nano Nagle Centre, near Mallow, Co Cork.

The Union of Presentation Sisters congregational leader Sr Mary Deane said they were all stunned and shocked by the tragedy.

The sisters were active in many aspects of life, loved walking and decided to go for a swim on a lovely evening, she said.

“Words seem inadequate to express our loss and sorrow as we come to terms with the tragic events that unfolded on a beautiful, sunny evening,’’ Sr Mary said in a statement.

“It is a tragic loss for all of us and for their families. These two women have been a source of inspiration and blessing to many people throughout their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, communities and friends of our beloved sisters at this time.’’

Tributes were paid to lifeguards and the emergency services who tried valiantly to save the sisters before the helicopter arrived to take them to hospital.

Carol Leahy, of Dingle Coastguard, said she had never seen such a co-ordinated effort to save lives and everybody did everything they could.

She and other Coastguard personnel arrived at the scene shortly before 8pm and, at that stage, every possible medical help was being given to the sisters.

The lifeguards were visibly upset afterwards and could only be saluted for their efforts, she added.

Kerry County Council spokesman Pádraig Corkery said it was shortly after 7pm when two lifeguards became aware of the women in difficulty in the water. They immediately pulled them out before calling the emergency services.

“Conditions were excellent at the time. The sea was extremely calm, with no current and no waves. The water was also very shallow where the tragedy occurred,’’ he said.

Several people were on the strand and witnessed the efforts to resuscitate the nuns.

Margaret Wrenn, from Killorglin, Co Kerry, said the first ambulance had arrived when she got to the strand and the lifeguards and paramedics, about eight people in all, were working extremely hard on CPR.

“I have to salute the lifeguards and paramedics for what they did. They worked on the women for over an hour,’’ she told Radio Kerry yesterday.

“It was very sad to witness what was happening — Inch is such a beautiful place. But people on the strand were very respectful and stood back while this was going on.

“If wishes could have got these people back to life they would have been brought back to life and the lifeguards just wanted to bring them back.’’

Mahmood Hussain, who runs Sammy’s Restaurant on the strand, said someone came into the restaurant soon after 7pm looking for a doctor. Mr Hussain went out and saw lifeguards working on the two women. Some surfing instructors were also assisting at the scene, all doing their best.

“I asked if someone had dialled 999 and was told they had,’’ he said.

“Not too long afterwards two ambulances arrived and the helicopter came after that. It all happened on a busy section of the beach, not far from the lifeguards’ hut. People in the area are very saddened and shocked by this tragic accident.’’

Inch is one of the country’s most beautiful strands and scenes for the David Lean movie, Ryan’s Daughter, were shot there in 1969.

Yesterday, hundreds of people were on the strand, many of them surfing and swimming. Being on the road between Killarney and Dingle, Inch is a popular stopping point for coaches, some of whose passengers were strolling on the strand, clearly unaware of the tragedy that shattered the serenity of such a delightful place the evening before.