Divers find second body in fishing tragedy

The body of the second victim of the Valentia Island drowning tragedy last week was recovered from the sea at the weekend.

The body of the second victim of the Valentia Island drowning tragedy last week was recovered from the sea at the weekend.

Mr Paul Elliot (29), of Kilcummin, near Killarney, who was originally from Dublin, was one of a party of six people who went fishing for mackerel off the Culloo Rocks on the island last Wednesday.

Four of the party had started fishing while two others, Mr Jerry Foley, a teacher from Firies, Co Kerry, and his son, Niall (12), were fixing bait on a higher ledge.

At about 2 p.m., a wave carried the four into the sea. As well as Mr Elliott, they included, Mr Ned Carey, a taxi driver from Kilcummin, and two German women, Ms Beatrix Colb and Ms Dorothy Sattler.

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When the Foleys saw what had happened, the boy ran for over a mile to raise the alarm and the Valentia Lifeboat was launched within six minutes.

Mr Carey was brought on board the lifeboat where he died. The two Germans were rescued after an hour in the water suffering only from minor injuries.

On Saturday night, after an extensive search involving Garda and Naval divers, as well local boats, the Valentia Lifeboat and rescue helicopters, Mr Elliott's body was also recovered.

The rocks at Culloo are notorious for sudden squalls and dangerously high waves. In the past 25 years, eight people have lost their lives near the rocks.