The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has issued its final report into the tragic death of a young man in a jetski accident in Killaloe in 2023.
The accident occurred on the afternoon of May 31st 2023 at around 4.00pm. A Sea-Doo personal watercraft (PWC), also known as a jetski, was launched into the water from a trailer at the public slipway south of Ballina, Co. Tipperary.
The PWC was being operated in the area between the launch slipway and the Killaloe Bridge, with some brief transits north of the bridge.
The report states that a ‘notice displaying Shannon Bye-law 13 (2)(b) (“A vessel or boat shall not be navigated at a speed in excess of 5 kilometres per hour when within 200 metres of a bridge, quay, jetty or wharf, when in a harbour or canal or when passing within 100 metres of a moored vessel or boat that a speed limit of five (5) kilometres per hour is in effect in the area of the incident.”) was located at the public slipway where the PWC was launched.
A second notice stated and showed the speed limitation areas which included the entire area where the PWC was operated and the location of where the Casualty was found.
The casualty was joined on his PWC by a passenger (“Passenger No. 1”) who was wearing a borrowed Personal Flotation Device (PFD) which she returned after the trip.
Later, at approximately 4.30pm the Casualty was joined by Passenger No. 2 and then also just after that by Passenger No. 1 again from the Ballina pontoon. The Casualty gave Passenger No. 2 his PFD so only one of the three persons onboard the PWC was wearing a PFD during the final part of the incident.
At approximately 5.00pm the PWC and the three occupants passed the pontoon at speed and made a sharp left turn in an area that was approximately mid-river and just south of the bridge.
All three persons fell off the PWC when it capsized during the sharp left turn. The two passengers, one of whom was wearing the Casualty’s PFD, recovered from the fall and swam ashore to the Ballina pontoon.
The driver of the PWC, who was not wearing a PFD, was not visible from the shore and was feared to have gone under the water. The alarm was raised by a member of the public and a search and rescue (SAR) operation commenced.
The casualty was recovered from the water after a search involving local emergency services at approximately 6.45pm.
The search and rescue operation was jointly carried out and assisted by Gardaí, Killaloe Coast Guard Unit (CGU), Shannon SAR rescue helicopter 115, Killaloe Fire and Rescue Service, Killaloe/Ballina SAR Unit and Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club.
According to the MCBI reported: “The marine casualty occurred due to a combination of the following causal factors: Operating a high powered PWC at excess speed and at a speed in excess of the local speed limit while conducting various manoeuvres.”
A fall overboard into cold water.
Inability to swim.
Lack of training in the operation of a high powered PWC.
Not wearing a suitable PFD.
Failure to follow the local area bye-laws relating to vessel speed.
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has made recommendations addressed to the relevant agencies including:
Waterways Ireland as the entity with responsibility for the Shannon Navigation.
Clare County Council and/or Clare County Council Municipal District of Killaloe and Tipperary County Council and Nenagh Municipal District Council.
An Garda Síochána (AGS).
Water Safety Ireland.
Minister for Transport, Department of Transport (including the Maritime Safety Policy Division (MSPD). These recommendations seek to avoid similar marine causalities in the future.
