*Dylan Coady-Coleman. Photograph: Joe Buckley
A TEN YEAR old Shannon boy has died following a road traffic incident outside the town on Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday afternoon, shortly after 2pm, Dylan Coady-Coleman was knocked down by a car in Cluain Airne.
Emergency services were contacted by a local resident who witnessed the boy getting hit by the vehicle. A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed that an “incident occurred in the Purcell Park area and involved a car and a male juvenile child”.
An air ambulance was needed to transport the boy from the field on the grounds of St Patrick’s Comprehensive to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) where his condition was critical.
Shortly before 9pm on Sunday evening, he was transported to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin where his condition was described as critical.
At 11:12 on Wednesday morning, Dylan’s life support was turned off and his organs will be donated to young children.
In what was an incredibly difficult period of days for the Coady and Coleman families, Dylan’s parents welcomed a new son into the world on Tuesday with the birth of Shane Dylan Coady-Coleman.
Shannon Town as a community has come together with a memorial fund set up for Dylan. In the space of two days, €40,000 has been donated.
Dylan had been a member of the Shannon Town Utd U11 squad having played with the club since the age of four. In a statement, the club said they were “heartbroken” to hear of Dylan’s death. “He was a joy to be around and always had a great big smile on his face when he played. On behalf of his team-mates and coaches Pa, Kieran and Jason (who he never paid any attention to), we’re all heartbroken. His infectious smile and energy will never be forgotten”.
Sports-mad Dylan was also a member of the Shannon Kickboxing club and represented his county in soccer.
Gardaí confirmed that a man in his 20s was arrested on Monday afternoon in connection with the road incident, and has since been released pending further investigations. “A forensic examination at the scene has been completed,” a statement from An Garda Síochána read.
