The teenage boy who died after a swimming accident in the River Shannon has been named as 14 year-old Caolán Webster.
He had been swimming with a group of friends on the River Shannon on Wednesday night when he got into difficulties. Members from the Athlone Sub Aqua Club nearby attempted to come to his aid, and the teenager was rescued by the RNLI Coosan Point Unit before being moved to Portiuncula Hospital.
He was later transferred to Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin but was pronounced dead at around 2am that night.
From St Patrick’s Terrace, the Scoil gCeithre Maistrí student came from the Irishtown area of the town. He had two brothers and four sisters.
Independent councillor Kevin Moran said the teenager’s death has caused anguish and shock in the locality.
“When we all woke up this morning the shock that circled around Athlone- I’ve seen tragedies but this one is after taking everyone completely by surprise. They’re heartbroken, the family of the boy who died.
“Everyone is upset, you can’t put into words how sad we all are at the loss of someone 14 years of age. He was just like all young people, out looking to have a bit of fun,” he said.
“His friends were very good, you feel for them as well for witnessing this. The sub aqua club and the RNLI were very quick to try and help out with the situation, and they are as much down as anybody else in relation to the outcome of this.”
Friends of the young man have taken to social media to pay tribute to him.