Inquest told of desperate efforts to save man after 60ft fall down blowhole

A woman has paid tribute to her son’s friends for their efforts in trying to save his life after he fell 60ft down a blowhole during a camping trip in Co Cork.

An inquest heard that Conor King (22), from Douglas in Cork city, and his friends had set-up a tent and lit a fire at Garretstown at around 11.30pm on April 24th last.

Mr King, a bio-medical engineering student at Munster Technological University, stood up and took a few steps backwards without realising the blowhole was there and then fell in.

Coroner Frank O’Connell was told that Gary Barrett, a trained lifeguard, immediately went into the water and to the blowhole to try to help his friend.

The inquest at Bandon courthouse heard that Mr Barrett performed CPR on Mr King for 40 minutes. He did not want to be lifted from the blowhole without his friend and the other members of the group also joined the effort.

Mark Morton, who had known Mr King since they started secondary school, said that one minute his friend was talking to the group and the next he was gone. He said he did not see Mr King fall as it was very dark and there “wasn’t a sound” immediately after.

He said the friends put on their phone torches and could see him down the blowhole. He later told gardaí in his statement that Mr King “looked perfect” but was completely unresponsive.

Cradled

Mr Morton said Mr Barrett administered CPR and “cradled Conor King to stop the waves from hitting him”.

Peter Kilbride, another of the friends, said Mr King took a few steps back and then fell into a hole which they had not realised was there.

Ronan Keogh, who was also part of the group, said they had been play wrestling beforehand and that Mr King had jokingly said “who is next?” before taking a few steps backwards and falling.

“He didn’t scream. I thought he had fallen on to the ledge. Gary was holding Conor and it just looked like he was asleep,” he said.

Irish Coast Guard volunteer Eamon Barry, who assisted in the rescue, paid tribute to Mr Barrett for his bravery on the night.

“Gary was experiencing hypothermia but he was very reluctant to leave his friend,” he said.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said that death would have been immediate and that Mr King would not have suffered. She said he died of polytrauma with head, chest and abdominal injuries consistent with a fall. His blood alcohol level was consistent with having had six or seven pints of beer.

Accidental death

Mr O’Connell recorded a verdict of accidental death. He stated that he planned to write to Cork County Council about the possibility of setting up a danger sign or fencing off the area close to the blowhole.

He and An Garda Síochána offered their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr King. He also paid tribute to Mr Barrett for his “heroic bravery” on the night.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr King’s mother Maura said she would forever be in debt to his friends. She asked them to remember the “beautiful days” they had with her son before his life ended so suddenly.

“I can’t explain the love I have for ye and how well I wish ye in your future careers. You have to live your lives. You have to cherish the lives you have.”

Eamonn King, the deceased’s father, said he was glad that his son had had fun on the night even if it ended in tragedy.