Kilkee Search

The bank holiday weekend was our last dive trip away for this season. Ger and Noel had a night dive on the friday and a dive to Bearaty Mor and another night dive to chimely bay was had on the saturday. Unfortuantly about 8 miles south of Kilkee on Sunday, two Polish men were washed off rocks into the water at a place known as 'Tullaig Point' with the result of one of the men loosing his life. We were approached by the 'Kilkee Search and Rescue Unit' and asked would we carry out a underwater search for the man early on Monday morning, as the weather was due to get bad that afternoon. So at 07.30hrs on Monday, the Athlone R.I.B along with Lough Ree Sub Aqua Clubs and Kilkee Search and Rescue boat left the slip at Kilkee. Liam, Derry and Noel travelled on the rib while our divers travelled by road. This proved to be a good idea as the seas were rough, with 3 to 4 metre swells. It took about 50 minutes to get to the search location, the Shannon based helicopter was also on location when we arrived carrying out an arieal search. We proceded futher south to a place called 'Rosses Bay' and picked up our divers, who by now had arrived by road, and returned to 'Tullaig Pt.' Due to the bad weather and rough seas diving was only permited in one loacation, so in a team effort with the other clubs all divers were put in togeather in a line. The divers from A.S.A.C were Ger Loughnane, Ger Fogerty, Colm O'Reilly and Derry Mc Mahon, The dive lasted for approx 30 minutes. Unfortuantly the body of the man was not recovered and due to the falling light we were all forced to return to Kilkee. This just proves the the Athlone Sub Aqua Club can be at any time called apon to carry out 'Search And Recovery Operations' be it at sea or on the inland waterways. We will be carrying out Search and recovery training this winter for any two star or snorkeller thats interested in taking part..........