UL student drowned in Kerry kayaking trip which 'was not properly risk-assessed'

Aisling O’Connor drowned after becoming unconscious and stopping breathing when she was trapped under a tree branch in the river near Glencar

The 202-page report said the group’s leaders had assessed the river conditions and were satisfied it was safe for the group to kayak on as they planned to exit the water before the more difficult final section. File photo

A kayaking trip by a group of students from University of Limerick on a river in Co. Kerry three years ago during which a young woman drowned, was not suitable for all participants, an investigation has found.

A report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board into the fatal incident involving a group of 27 members of the University of Limerick Kayak Club, said the trip was not properly assessed for risk given the prevailing conditions on the Upper Caragh River and the skills and experience of those taking part in a high-risk activity.