GARDAÍ SAID yesterday the drowning of a man in Howth, Co Dublin, on Tuesday was being treated as “a tragic accident”.
The man, in his mid-40s, was taking a test drive in a car from the local Beshoff Motors garage when it left the middle pier and plunged into the water at about 3.15pm on Tuesday.
The other occupant, Jeremy Beshoff of Beshoff Motors, was the front-seat passenger in the car.
The man had previously taken a test drive in the car and requested a second test drive on Tuesday, so Mr Beshoff offered to accompany him. Mr Beshoff said he believed the car doors were locked before the car was driven off the pier. He broke a window and escaped from the car before swimming to the surface.
The Garda, a RNLI lifeboat, Dublin Fire Brigade and the Howth Coast Guard were involved in the rescue operation.
The RNLI lifeboat took a diver to the scene and the driver’s body was recovered. He was taken by fire brigade paramedics to Beaumont Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Mr Beshoff was also taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure and was later released.
The Coast Guard boat Gráinnewas launched, and booms were placed in the water to contain any pollution threat from the car.
Beshoff Motors was closed yesterday as a mark of respect.
