Garda technical experts are due in Co Mayo today to examine a jet-ski involved in a water sports tragedy on Lough Mask this week.
Patrick O'Haire (21), a bakery worker, died late on Wednesday after getting into difficulty on the lake. Originally from Clonbur, Co Galway, Mr O'Haire had been living for some time in rented accommodation near Tourmakeady. Another young man swam a considerable distance to shore and raised the alarm. He was being comforted by family and friends yesterday.
Mr O'Haire was a close friend and working colleague of the three delivery men from Irish Pride Bakery, Ballinrobe - Aaron Morley, Pat Morley and Jonathan Donovan - who were killed in a crash outside Ballinrobe last November.
The latest tragedy has brought the pain back for members of the local community. Fr Billy Reilly, parish priest of Clonbur, said he knew the O'Haire family well but was "too shocked" to talk about what happened.
The alarm had been raised about 9pm on Wednesday after the survivor swam ashore at Gortmore, south of Tourmakeady village.
A Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter took part in the search operation until dawn. A Sligo-based marine rescue helicopter then took over and located Mr O'Haire's body on the eastern shore of the lake some miles away. He was brought to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar at about 6.30am.
Civilians had joined gardaí and the Corrib Mask Red Cross rescue team in an overnight search of the 20,000 acre lake. Weather conditions overnight were rough with occasional torrential showers.
Supt John Quirke, who co-ordinated the search, said: "The tragedy occurred despite the fact that these young men were reasonably well equipped with lifesaving devices such as buoyancy aids and wetsuits.
"The body was recovered a good distance away near the Partry shore on the eastern side of the lake. We have taken possession of the two jet-skis involved and they will be examined by our technical experts."