Separate inquiries into death of fisherman

GARDAÍ AND the Health and Safety Authority have started separate investigations into the death of a fisherman after he fell into the sea while fishing in Tralee Bay.

Patrick Egan (45), from McCowen’s Terrace, Fenit, was working with skipper Denis Williams on his lobster boat when his foot became tangled in ropes as lobster pots were being cast overboard near Muckler Rocks, some five miles off Fenit, at about 9.45am yesterday.

It’s believed Mr Egan lost his balance and was pulled overboard by the ropes and the pots as they were being cast, and that he spent around three minutes in the water before Mr Williams managed to get him back on board the lobster boat and tried to resuscitate him.

Mr Williams notified Fenit RNLI, and a lifeboat was launched and reached Mr Williams’s boat within 15 minutes.

RNLI crew members there continued with cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the injured man.

Fenit RNLI operations manager Gerard O'Donnell told The Irish Timesthat RNLI personnel worked on Mr Egan as he was being brought back to Fenit, where a doctor and ambulance from Kerry General Hospital were waiting. Mr Egan, a single man, was rushed to the hospital, where doctors attempted unsuccessfully to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Supt Pat Sullivan of Tralee Garda station confirmed a post-mortem will be carried out on Mr Egan’s remains today by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster, and a file will be prepared on the matter for an inquest by the north Kerry coroner.