Teenager mourned after athlone drowning tragedy

Condolences have been expressed to the family of a teenage boy who died after getting into difficulty while swimming on the River Shannon in Athlone yesterday (Wednesday) evening.

The Gardai and the local sub aqua club are among those who have expressed their sympathy to the family of 15-year-old Athlone native Caolan Seoighe Webster following the tragedy.

The alarm was raised between 5.30pm and 6pm yesterday when Caolan got into difficulty while swimming in the river near Wansboro Park, between the railway bridge and the N6 bypass bridge.

Ambulance personnel were already at the scene when Gardai arrived, though the boy had not been located at that stage.

Members of Athlone Sub Aqua club had been preparing for a routine Wednesday evening training exercise at the time and two of its divers, along with the Garda Water Unit, assisted in locating the teenager.

Around the time he was located, the Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat also arrived at the scene.

Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Stewart McMickan assisted with administering CPR, and said: “Emergency and volunteer services were well-coordinated; the young man was located in the water quickly and medical care was on hand when he was brought ashore.”

After being attended to by the ambulance crew, Caolan was escorted to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. He was then airlifted to Temple Street Children’s Hospital between 9pm and 10pm, and passed away in the early hours of this morning.

Caolan had been in the company of three friends when he got into difficulty.

Liam Sheringham of the Athlone Sub Aqua Club stated that even though air temperatures were in the region of 20 degrees celsius yesterday, the water temperature was just seven degrees. Swimming in such cold water 'can be a shock to the system,' he said.

'This was a tragic accident and the thoughts and sympathies of all at Athlone Sub Aqua Club are with the family at this time,' said Mr Sheringham.

A Garda spokeswoman also expressed her sympathy with the family on behalf of the Gardai.