An inquest into the death of a man whose body was found in an effluent tank heard yesterday how he died from sudden adult death syndrome or a heart attack.
Eoghan Power (42), Ballyknock, Carrick-On-Suir, Co Tipperary, was found on October 22nd, 2005, in an effluent tank at a Glanbia plant on the edge of the town.
The inquest in Clonmel yesterday heard Mr Power was last seen at midday on Saturday, October 21st, and was discovered at about 10.30am the next day.
Mr Power was a musician and singer and a son of Fair City actor Peg Power and a nephew of Liam Clancy of the Clancy Brothers. He also won a Hennessy award for short-story writing.
Mr Power, a father of two teenage girls, had been a janitor at the plant. He worked there since 1983.
Dr Maurice Murphy, consultant pathologist at Waterford Regional Hospital, said Mr Power did not die from inhaling noxious fumes, or from drowning after falling into the 5m tank. His death was due to sudden adult death syndrome or a heart attack.
Dr Murphy said most people linked such a death with sports. He added that Mr Power would have had a "good chance" of resuscitation had he not been alone.
The inquest heard that Mr Power was noticed to be missing when his wife, Katherine, a teacher, called to the plant at about 1.30pm concerned for his whereabouts. He had been due to finish work at midday. His locked car was still on the site and his clothing was in his locker.
A work colleague, Robbie Dunne, contacted maintenance manager Pádraig Sheehan.
A search of the plant, adjoining fields, the river Suir and around the effluent tanks was carried out for several hours but Mr Power was not found. Gardaí also became involved in the extensive search. It was then decided that the three tanks near the main plant would be drained with the help of the local fire brigade.
As part of Mr Power's job, he had to check the tanks twice a week with a pole to check that there were no blockages.
From 8am on October 22nd, the tanks, which hold waste water from products such as butter, were drained and Mr Power's body was found at the bottom of the aeration tank.
The inquest heard that since his death, CCTV cameras had been installed around the effluent tanks and that two people now inspected the tanks together.
The jury returned a verdict of sudden unexpected adult death syndrome in conjunction with natural causes in accordance with medical evidence.
Following the inquest Mr Power's family expressed their relief that they now knew how their loved one died.
A brother, Kevin Power, said they were "surprised to hear that he had died from natural causes. We are all glad that his cause of death has now been established."