Doctor dies in ‘freak drowning accident’ in Mayo

Dr Farah Ahmed’s car entered Castlebar river on Friday

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses and footage after car ended Castlebar river on Friday night. Photograph: iStock
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses and footage after car ended Castlebar river on Friday night. Photograph: iStock

A young doctor has died in what is believed to have been a freak drowning accident.

Dr Farah Ahmed, who was attached to Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, died on Friday night when the car she was driving reversed into a river.

The 30-year-old was dead when taken from the partly submerged vehicle at what is known as Hoban’s Carpark beside Castlebar river.

Gardaí believe that Dr Ahmed was reversing at the time and her car, which breached a safety barrier, entered the water.

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The river, which drains Lough Lannagh, was particularly swollen at the time due to recent heavy rainfall.

Shortly before midnight, gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a car in the river.

Dr Ahmed was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was removed to Mayo University Hospital where a postmortem is due to take place.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. Any road users who were in the area between 10pm and midnight, who may have camera footage (including dash cam) are asked to make it available to gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Castlebar Garda station on 094 903 8200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.