Inquiry into Lough Corrib boat death

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has begun an inquiry into the death of a Galway angler who fell overboard in Lough Corrib on Monday afternoon.

The man who died after falling into the water from an angling boat has been named as Michael Ruane (53) of Devon Park in Salthill, Galway. Also hospitalised was a 47-year-old fellow angler from Oranmore who was treated for hypothermia after he attempted to help his companion.

The anglers were several kilometres north of Annaghdown, close to Lough Corrib’s narrows, when their craft was hit by a wave and Mr Ruane was thrown overboard. His lifejacket floated free, and he was in the water for an estimated 50 minutes.

The alarm was raised by the crew of another angling craft at about 4.40pm, and Valentia Coast Guard tasked the Irish Coast Guard and the Irish Red Cross Corrib Mask rescue team.

The Corrib Mask rescue team paid tribute to other anglers who had helped search for Mr Ruane.

Met Éireann had issued a small craft warning for this area on Monday morning, forecasting southwesterly winds of force six to seven.

Inland Fisheries Ireland head of operations Dr Greg Forde expressed his sympathy to the angler’s family. He urged people to check weather forecasts before going out in boats.