*Ballyalla Lake. Photograph: Martin Connolly
ONE MAN HAS died in a drowning incident at Ballyalla Lake.
An Garda Síochána have confirmed to The Clare Echo that a man in his late forties had died after swimming in Ballyalla Lake on Saturday evening.
After diving into the water from the Old Pier, at around 6:30pm on Saturday evening, the man did not resurface prompting a reaction from young man nearby who jumped in and brought the individual ashore, Clare FM has reported.
Vigorous efforts to resuscitate the man began and lasted until ambulance paramedics arrived to the popular amenity on the outskirts of Ennis. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and removed to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem will take place.
“Gardaí attended the scene of an incident on Saturday afternoon at Ballyalla Lake, Ballyalla, Ennis where a man had dived into the water from the Old Pier. Gardaí and persons at scene assisted the man and he was taken from the water, and the R115 brought him to the National Ambulance Service where he was pronounced deceased. The body of the man (late 40s) was taken to the mortuary in University Hospital Limerick. A file will be prepared for the Coroners Court,” a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed.
As well as the Gardaí, the local lifeguard, the National Ambulance Service and Irish Coast Guard were all alerted.
Meanwhile, an eight year old boy was rescued by the crew of Rescue 115 at Doughmore Beach in Doonbeg. On Saturday evening, the Killaloe Coast Guard came to the aid of a swimmer in difficulty at Two Mile Gate
