The Marine Casualty Investigation Board is examining the circumstances surrounding the death of a 15-year-old boy in a jet-ski incident in Youghal Harbour, Co Cork.
Patrick Daly, Greencloyne, Youghal, died after the jet-ski he was riding collided with a speedboat on Monday evening. The 36-year-old driver of the speedboat suffered serious leg injuries and was taken to Cork University Hospital where he was said to be in a stable condition yesterday.
Another man who had been on board an inflatable dinghy that was being towed by the speedboat when the collision occurred was uninjured in the crash but was said to be suffering from shock.
Surveyors from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources are to assist in the inquiry of the investigation board, an independent body which reports to the Minister, Mr Ahern. Gardaí said they were also investigating the incident.
Two lifeboats from Youghal assisted in the rescue attempt which began within minutes of the alarm being raised at 8.31 p.m. Holidaymakers who had been in the harbour area called for help after hearing a bang and seeing the speedboat go out of control. A group of local fishermen were first to react and reached the casualties, taking them on board. The lifeboat then arrived and brought the three people to land where their injuries were examined by a doctor. An air ambulance was on stand-by to bring the casualties to hospital. However, the 15-year-old boy, who suffered severe head injuries, was found to be too unstable to move, and he died at the scene.
The crash is understood to have taken place about 500 yards from land, in the middle of the harbour, which is unmarked by buoys. The jet-ski was said to have been originally launched from Ferrypoint, Co Waterford, a short distance along the coast.
It is the first serious incident in the area involving a jet-ski. However, complaints about the nuisance factor associated with such pleasure craft prompted Youghal Town Council to draft a code of practice with jet-skiers in 1998.
The code states that jet-ski users confine their activities to an area north of the local ferry port and Green's Quay, and that they drive slowly until well clear of other boats, swimmers and other users of the water.
The code also states that "the use of jet-skis in an irresponsible or reckless manner is prohibited".
Local councillors had earlier this year called for the code to be turned into a by-law, with penalties attached, after a number of complaints about jet-ski use in the area.
A draft by-law was presented to members of the council last June. Public consultation on it has since taken place, and the law is due to be adopted next month, said a spokesman for the council. "The by-law is a reflection of the code of practice, and once it is passed it will be passed on to the Garda for enforcement," he said.
