A man was killed yesterday off Achill Island when a steel rope being used to tow a barge snapped, hitting him on the head. Mr Tom Ryan (41), of Gortawarla, Newport, Co Mayo, was employed as a diver by Clare Island Seafarms and was married with four young children. Garda Pat Prendergast, of the Achill Sound station, said Mr Ryan was known in the area as an expert diver and the local community was devastated by his death.
The Achill lifeboat and a rescue helicopter assisted in the recovery of Mr Ryan's body and the barge. The helicopter brought Mr Ryan to hospital in Castlebar, but he was dead on arrival.
The accident occurred between Clare island and Achill.