This article is from page 3 of the 2006-11-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE need for multi-lingual warning signs and more information for the non-national community about the dangers of fishing off the west Clare coast was highlighted again this weekend following the tragic death of a young father off Doonbeg.
The 27-year-old Latvian man was swept into the sea by a large swell at Blue Pool, leaving his distraught wife and eight-year-old son to look on in terror.
The young family, who have lived in Athlone for two years, were fishing on the ledge when the tragedy occurred.
Clare County Council had destroyed an access route to the area more than 10 years ago, as up to nine people had lost their lives there during the previous two decades.
According to Manuel di Lucia of the Kilkee Marine Rescue Service none of those who died in the Blue Pool had been local, and all had been visitors to the area.
“Non-nationals and visitors to the area who plan to go fishing off the Loop Head peninsula or anywhere along the west Clare coast should seek local advice as to safety,” he said.
Cllr Madeleine Taylor-Quinn said, “It is imperative that multi-lingual signs are urgently erected in areas dangerous for fishing.”
Sunday’s tragedy followed the drowning of father-of-four Piotr Bedzlowitz the previous week off Tullig near Cross.
The Kilkee Marine Rescue, Kilkee and Burren Sub-aqua Club, the Doolin and Kilkee Coastguards, the Civil Defence and the Garda underwater unit were completing the morning search for the 35-year-old’s body, when at 1.30 pm they were called to the scene of the Doonbeg tragedy. Just 15 minutes later the Kilkee Marine Rescue lifeboat under coxman Kieran Deloughry found the Latvian man’s body. His remains were brought to the Kilkee Marine Rescue Centre where local priest Fr Donagh O’Meara administered the last rites The man’s distraught wife then identified the body before it was removed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Meanwhile, the Ennis Lions Club will fly the wife and brother of Tullig drowning victim Piotr Bedzlowitz to Ireland this week.The bereaved family are to visit the site where 35-year-old Piotr was swept into the sea, and meet with the local rescue groups that tried to recover the father of four. The club are also planning a fund raiser to help the two families that lost their loved ones.