An Irishman was found dead at his home in Florida as a result of a devastating hurricane in the region over the weekend.
Aidan Bowles (71) was found in the bedroom of his home in Indian Rocks Beach by detectives, having apparently drowned in “rising water that entered the residence” during Hurricane Helene, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Hurricane Helene has claimed the lives of more than 90 people since it made landfall last week, devastating parts of the United States’ southeast region. Police in Pinellas County confirmed nine deaths in the region following the hurricane.
Mr Bowles’s address fell within a mandatory evacuation zone declared prior to Hurricane Helene’s landfall.
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Mr Bowles was originally from Ireland, but had reportedly lived in the US for some time.
In a Facebook post, Sam Bowles, the deceased’s son, described Mr Bowles as a “hero”.
“Unfortunately my father didn’t make it through Hurricane Helene last night and passed away in his home early this morning,” he wrote on Saturday.
“This guy was the strongest and smartest person I’ve ever met in my life, he truly made an impact in his life, on not just me but everyone he came into contact with. I’m truly lost without him.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of the case, and is providing consular assistance. “As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the detail of individual cases,” a spokesman for the Department said.
The New York Times reported on Monday that Mr Bowles was a retired lawyer and owned a sports bar close to his home on Indian Rocks Beach, a city of about 3,600 people.
The newspaper said Mr Bowles had holidayed on Indian Rocks Beach since the 1980s and, after living in Kentucky for some time, moved to the city permanently some 15 years ago.
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