A Mayo angler who lost his life on Lough Mask last year was not wearing a lifejacket, and did not have adequate warm clothing to resist hypothermia.
In another marine casualty off Co Cork last year, a man drowned when his lifejacket did not inflate properly, according to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB).
The Mayo and Cork drownings are among a series of investigations into marine accidents published this week by the MCIB.
Mr John O'Hora, of Charlestown, Co Mayo, died on May 3rd, 2003, when returning from an angling trip on Lough Mask with Mr Joe Walsh, of Tubbercurry, Co Sligo. The weather had deteriorated and their 19-foot fibreglass boat struck rocks and grounded on its return to shore. The two men attempted to refloat the boat, but it became swamped with waves and capsized. Neither was wearing a lifejacket, but clung to the vessel. Mr O'Hora lost his grip and drowned.
In its recommendations, the MCIB advises that a full and detailed weather forecast for the intended area should be obtained prior to departure, lifejackets should be worn at all times, and notes that it is often better to remain with the boat rather than to attempt to refloat it.
In its report on the death of Mr Jack Sweeney at Blackrock, Cork, on August 18th, 2003, the MCIB investigators found that Mr Sweeney's lifejacket had failed to inflate fully. On further examination after the accident, it was noted that the non-return valve fitted to the mouthpiece on the jacket's left side was stuck in an open position.
The MCIB says this factor had a "very serious effect" on the outcome. Even if the lifejacket was only half inflated, it would have possibly offered sufficient support to Mr Sweeney to prevent him going beneath the surface.
The brave action of a fishing skipper who tried to rescue his crewman when he fell overboard west of Loop Head, Co Clare, on February 12th, 2003, is praised by the MCIB in its report into the loss of Mr Anthony Dillane. Mr Dillane is believed to have had a cardiac arrest and became entangled in a buoy rope and was pulled overboard.
His skipper, Mr John Moriarty, jumped into the water over the port side and managed to bring the crewman to the surface. Mr Moriarty did not wear a lifejacket, and told the MCIB that he felt he would have been hampered in his efforts if he had. The MCIB advises that while the skipper's actions were brave, he should have attached a lifeline between himself and the boat before entering the water.
Other MCIB reports published this week include investigations into three separate deaths of three mariners working on ships owned in Arklow, Co Wicklow; and the loss of Mr John Allen of Inishbiggle island while en route from Bulls Mouth, Achill Island, Co Mayo, to Inishbiggle by boat on March 19th, 2003.
The MCIB said the engine on Mr Allen's vessel stopped a short time after departure. Mr Allen, who was not wearing a lifejacket, either fell into the water or did so when the boat became swamped.
