A 26-year-old man died in front of his wife and child in Co Clare yesterday when he was swept into the sea while fishing.
The man, believed to be from Latvia, lived in Athlone in Co Westmeath and had been fishing at the notoriously dangerous Blue Pool near Doonbeg when he was washed into the sea by a rogue wave at around 2.10pm. His wife and eight-year-old child quickly raised the alarm.
Valentia Coast Guard Radio issued a request on the marine emergency channel for boats in the area to assist in the massive air and sea search which quickly swung into operation.
The Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter was also sent to the area, however the man's body had been recovered before they reached the scene. The body was found a short distance from the shore by members of the Kilkee Coast Guard unit.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor. The remains were kept at the scene for several hours as relatives travelled from Athlone to comfort his wife and child.
The body was later removed to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where a postmortem is due to be carried out early today.