Tributes have been paid to two Irishmen who died when their vehicle overturned in Melita, Manitoba in Canada.
The men have been named as Raymond McCann from Kanturk, Co Cork and Cathal Murphy from Kilbrogan, Bandon.
The emergency services were alerted at around 10.30am on Saturday. Local medics responded and found the two men unresponsive inside the vehicle. The men were pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation is taking place into the cause of the crash.
The men were living in Manitoba at the time of their death. Mr McCann was a former student of Cólaiste Treasa in Kanturk. He was in his forties and worked as a mechanic and welder.
In statements released through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the families of Mr McCann and Mr Murphy said they were devastated by what had happened but thankful for the support received.
Both families requested privacy while they attempted to come to terms with their loss.
Local Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan extended his sympathy to the McCann family. “It is horrific happening so far away and it is compounded by the fact that it happened in Canada,” he said.
A friend also posted a tribute on Facebook saying that Mr McCann was a true gentleman. “Everytime we were together we had the laughs and the great chats. U were a rogue in all the right ways. U will be greatly missed by us all.”
Mr Murphy, who was in his thirties, is survived by his parents Paddy and Christina and his three brothers. Local Sinn Féin councillor Rachel McCarthy was a contemporary of Mr Murphy’s and said his death would leave a huge void amongst this friends.
“You couldn’t say enough good things about Cathal. We were in the same year in school. It is an awful tragedy. He had a super personality. He was always smiling and happy. He was a great soccer player in his younger days.”
A friend also paid tribute to Mr Murphy on Facebook
“Goodbye our fantastical friend. You meant more than most people could ever have fully fathomed. This is heartbreaking and utterly unasked for.”
The department said it would liaise with the families in order to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies of the two men.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.