Lifejackets should be compulsory for lake fishermen just as seatbelts are mandatory for car drivers, a coroner said yesterday in Castlebar.
Mr John O'Dwyer's remarks were made at an inquest into the death of a trout angler, who died earlier this year after his boat capsized on Lough Mask, Co. Mayo.
Mr John O'Hora (53), a maintenance mechanic with Team Aer Lingus in Dublin, formerly from Charlestown, Co Mayo was drowned on May 3rd last.
The inquest heard a statement from Mr O'Hora's friend, Mr Joe Walsh (62), of Ballymote Road, Tubbercurry, who survived the tragedy, that the deceased was wearing a lifejacket earlier on in the fishing expedition but took it off because it was uncomfortable.
After hearing the evidence, Mr O'Dwyer said that despite the number of deaths on the water, it did not appear to be hitting home that lifejackets were necessary. The coroner added: "I hope that the Minister for the Marine will look at the situation and make the wearing of lifejackets on lake boats compulsory just as the wearing of a seatbelt in a car is compulsory."
In a statement read to the inquest, Mr Walsh said it became blustery on Lough Mask and, as they were passing the mouth of Gortmore Bay, a wave pushed them into the shallow.
The next wave came into their fibreglass boat and washed their gear away. They tried to push the boat off the rocks but were not able. They got out of the boat to lighten the load and when the boat floated, it turned over.
The witness said: "We both held onto the boat. The boat started to drift along the shore. We were about 50 yards from the shore when the boat capsized. We did not panic but I think we were in the water for an hour and a half. John did not say at any time that he was losing his grip but when I looked across the keel of the boat at one stage I could not see John."
The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence that the deceased died from asphyxia secondary to immersion in water.