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The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has emphasized the importance of personal flotation devices (PFDs) for people using pleasure boats on rivers and lakes.
The Board recommended that the Minister of Transportation issue a Maritime Notice to reinforce the necessary measures for the safe operation of pleasure boats.
The call follows an investigation into the death of a 78-year-old Mayo man, who drowned in Lough Mask last year.
Ballinrobe’s Sean Moloney was reported missing on Friday, March 8, 2019. He is believed to have encountered difficulties while negotiating a section of the lake.
The well-known fisherman had fished the lake for many years and had no known medical conditions.
Efforts to locate him continued for three weeks, and bad weather hampered progress in several stages.
On March 30, members of the May-based Granuaile Sub Aqua club located his body, a short distance from where his boat had been found.
The MCIB said Moloney was not wearing a PFD and, coupled with the shock of the cold water shock, this greatly reduced his chances of survival.
The researchers also concluded that a significant change in weather conditions on March 8 would have resulted in very difficult conditions, with force 8 or 9 westerly winds recorded later that night.
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