The four Air Corps men killed in the helicopter crash in Tramore earlier this month died from multiple severe traumatic injuries, the inquests into their deaths heard yesterday.
Their relatives were told in Waterford that the tragedy had touched the public in a unique way. The families were also thanked by the coroner for east Waterford, Mr Frank Hutchinson, for the life-saving services the men had provided.
Dental records were used to identify the bodies of the men, who all died instantly when their Dauphin helicopter crashed into a sand dune at Tramore Burrow on July 2nd, as they were attempting to return from a successful search-and-rescue mission.
The four were Capt Dave O'Flaherty (30), who was married with no children, from Tullamore, Co Offaly; Capt Mick Baker (28), single, from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford; Sgt Paddy Mooney (34), married with three children, from Stamullen, Co Meath; and Cpl Niall Byrne (24), single, from Killiney, Co Dublin.
Having heard evidence as to the immediate cause of death, Mr Hutchinson adjourned the inquests for a year, pending the outcome of the official investigation into the cause of the crash.
In evidence, Garda Simon Murphy said he arrived at the scene of the crash on the sand dunes at Tramore beach at about 4 a.m. The wreckage of the helicopter was still burning, and parts were thrown across a wide area. Fog was thick and visibility was down to 10 to 15 yards. Members of the Tramore unit of the Irish Marine Emergency Service and two Air Corps personnel were already present.
Sgt Chris Delaney said he arrived at 4.10 a.m. and secured the scene with Garda Murphy.
He was present when the four bodies were recovered and placed in body bags. He accompanied them to the mortuary at Waterford Regional Hospital.
Two South Eastern Health Board dental surgeons, Dr Maeve Keller and Dr Maura Haran, later identified the bodies using dental records supplied by the Defence Forces' medical unit.
Dr Joseph O'Connor, who carried out the post-mortems, said an external examination of all four showed severe traumatic injuries, with third-degree burns and charring. The men suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries. The doctor agreed with Mr Hutchinson that death in each case was instantaneous.
Mr Hutchinson told family members that he had never come across "such genuine sadness and heartfelt feeling as I've found in the last few weeks".
Death in each case, he said, was due to multiple severe traumatic injuries consistent with an aviation accident.
