An autopsy this morning may establish the cause of death of two Irish tourists found dead in their hotel swimming pool in Sardinia on Tuesday.
The chief medico legale (state pathologist) of Alghero will examine the bodies of Barbara Mary Reeves (25) and Gerard Shane O'Brien (32) in an attempt to explain the circumstances of their deaths at about 2.20 p.m. on Tuesday.
Relatives of Ms Reeves and Mr O'Brien spoke yesterday of their shock at learning of the deaths. Gardai informed relatives on Tuesday evening of the swimming pool accident at the hotel in Alghero.
Mr O'Brien was from Knockalisheen, outside the village of Meelick, Co Clare. Ms Reeves, his girlfriend, was from Keating Street in the Pennywell area of Limerick. Relatives said that the two had been on their first holiday together.
The bodies were spotted on the bottom of the swimming pool at the Hotel Oasis by a couple of Roman tourists, who immediately pulled them out of the water and sounded the alarm. Both were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Relatives were told that Ms Reeves apparently got into difficulty in the pool during siesta time on Tuesday, when the area was quiet. Her boyfriend, who was not a strong swimmer, failed to rescue her and also appears to have got into difficulty.
The period between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. is normally a time when the hotel swimming pool is little used both because of the extreme heat (37 Celsius in the shade on Tuesday afternoon) and also because hotel guests are either at lunch or resting.
Apparently no one either noticed the two taking a swim in the pool or heard them getting into difficulty. Although the Hotel Oasis operates a lifeguard service for guests, that service is suspended during the lunchtime break between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The two victims arrived in Sardinia on Sunday, less than 48 hours before their deaths. Relatives travelled to the island yesterday to accompany the remains back to Ireland.
An employee of Bord na gCon, Mr O'Brien had worked as a groundsman at Limerick Greyhound Track for the past eight years. He also trained greyhounds and one of his dogs qualified for the 1988 St Leger Final in Limerick. His brother, Neil, commented: "That was his best achievement. He was a genius with the greyhounds."
Ms Reeves worked in Newsom's giftware and hardware shop in William Street, Limerick, for the past five years. Her brother, Pat, described her as having been full of vitality. "It was a sheer tragedy," he said of the accident.
Mr John O'Leary, manager of Newsom's, said that Ms Reeves had been a valued staff member who had got on marvellously with staff and customers. "The place is in a state of shock," he added.
The manager of Limerick Greyhound Track, Mr Gus Ryan, said that Mr O'Brien was recognised as one of the best groundsmen in the State.
The curate of Meelick, Father Brendan Fitzgerald, said that the community was shocked and dazed at the news and wished to extend its sympathy to both families.