'You meant so much to everyone': Tribute paid to promising footballer Wasiou Ayawe

Wassiou Ayawe, 19, was a promising footballer from Limerick who died following an incident in Co Clare on Wednesday 

Wassiou Ayawe

A promising footballer has died following an incident involving a jet ski in Killaloe in Co Clare. 

He has been named locally as 19-year-old Wassiou Ayawe, who was a native of Limerick city.

The body of the teenager was taken from the water on Wednesday after three people travelling on a jet ski got into difficulty on the water on Lough Derg.

The two girls who were also involved in the incident were able to make their way to shore but Mr Ayawe was lost in the water.

The Irish Coast Guard was alerted to the incident between Ballina, Co Tipperary, and Killaloe, Co Clare late on Wednesday afternoon.

A coordinated search and rescue operation was mounted between the Valentia Coast Guard, gardaí and the National Ambulance Service.

Shannon Coast Guard helicopter R115 was tasked to the scene alongside the Killaloe Coast Guard Unit.

Following the extensive search, the teenager's body was recovered from the water this evening. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Ayawe had been a promising underage footballer with Limerick FC where he played as a forward. 

In a tribute on social media, a family member said: "You meant so much to everyone, I have no words to describe the pain you left us all in. I love you so much’’.

'Dark shadow over the community'

Clare County Council Caothairleach Tony O'Brien said the incident was "was a very tragic accident". 

"Apparently, he was a visitor to the area, which isn't unusual — but I must say it has cast a dark shadow over the community that a young person had lost their life.

"It's a very popular place for young people to gather, just south of the bridge between Killaloe and Ballina. It's where young people gather for a swim and enjoy the sunshine and the water. You have quite a number of swimmers, we have those who come and visit and launch jet-skis and boats from the jetty."

Mr O'Brien told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that jet-skis have become "very popular in the last number of years" saying they are particularly popular "for those who come for the day or aren't resident in the locality". 

"They come to enjoy the amenities and launch there.

"It's a very busy time for people going out on the lake — the weather was gorgeous, there wasn't a ripple on the river, no flow of water: it was idyllic."

Mr O'Brien urged anyone who enters the water to respect it. 

"I would say to anyone thinking of using the water over the next few days in whatever part of the country they are in: you must respect it, because when it turns back on you, it can be very tragic as we found out yesterday evening."