A young man drowned in Galway Bay yesterday evening, when he and a companion got into difficulties near Hare Island.
It is understood that the couple may have been trying to reach the island at low tide and slipped into the water. Galway Inshore Lifeboat was alerted just after 4.30 p.m. and managed to reach them both. They were taken ashore immediately and transferred to waiting ambulances.
Efforts were made to revive the young man, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at University College Hospital, Galway. It is understood he was in his late teens and was from the east side of Galway city. The young woman, who is in her early 20s, was treated for shock.
Earlier yesterday, the Irish Water Safety Association repeated its safety advice after a father and son were rescued from Lough Derg, near Portumna, Co Galway, when their 15 ft kayak capsized.
The Irish Coastguard said both were wearing lifejackets and were not in any immediate danger. The father and son were in the water for about 20 minutes when they were picked up by a cruising vessel.
In Dublin, a diving raft with 14 people on board was rescued in an air-and-sea operation by emergency services north-east of Lambay Island yesterday morning.
The Howth Lifeboat responded to a distress call sent by the Rigid Inflatable Boat at 10.30 a.m. after it was swamped in what rescuers described as "fresh" conditions.
The Dublin Coastguard Helicopter was scrambled to the scene and airlifted a child to safety.