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An angry 78-year-old who drowned after falling from his boat in difficult conditions would have suffered some kind of impact from the cold water, preventing any chance of survival, according to an investigation.
The man, who is not named and who lived in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, went fishing as usual from Cushlough in Lough Mask on March 8, 2019.
The alarm was raised when he was unable to return to the jetty.
According to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB), which examines such deaths, water conditions at the time were rough with a western swell.
At approximately 6 p.m., about five and a half hours after his departure, an effort was made to call his mobile phone. A local also traveled to his home where he lived alone.
A search and rescue operation was subsequently launched and the next day his boat was found in good condition near some rocks a mile and a half from the dock with his fishing gear well stored.
As the searches continued, it wasn’t until March 30 that the man’s remains were found at the bottom of the lake.
Coroner report
“Once in the water fully clothed and not wearing a PFD [personal flotation device], he would have had difficulty getting back on board the ship, ”according to the report.
“The water temperature was 8 degrees Celsius and it would have been cold to the human body when submerged. This would lead to the potential for a cold shock for a person who suddenly dives into cold lake water. “
Both the temperature and the lack of buoyancy aid would have “considerably reduced their chances of survival.”
He also noted that weather conditions had deteriorated to the point that any experienced fisherman would have had a hard time driving.
In November, a forensic report found the cause of death to be suffocation from drowning.
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