Displaying items by tag: Johnny Mac Donncha

12th December 2010

Lifejackets 'Must Be Worn', Inquest Hears

The coroner for Galway West has urged all boat-users to wear lifejackets and put safety first on the water.

Dr Ciarán McLaughlin spoke at the inquest into the death of experienced sailor Johnny Mac Donncha, who drowned after his Galway hooker was knocked over by a gust of wind, The Irish Times reports.

Mac Donncha, 67, was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the accident on 5 September 2009. Despite the best efforts of rescuers in a neighbouring boat, he could not be revived.

The investigation into the incident found that if he had been wearing the lifejacket that was on board for him, "it would have increased his chances of survival".

The inquest also found that there was no VHF radio on board either vessel, the presence of which would have attracted helicopter assistance "faster and with greater ease".

The coroner for Galway West has urged all boat-users to wear lifejackets and put safety first on the water.

Dr Ciarán McLaughlin spoke at the inquest into the death of experienced sailor Johnny Mac Donncha, who drowned after his Galway hooker was knocked over by a gust of wind, The Irish Times reports.

Mac Donncha, 67, was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the accident on 5 September 2009. Despite the best efforts of rescuers in a neighbouring boat, he could not be revived.

The investigation into the incident found that if he had been wearing the lifejacket that was on board for him, "it would have increased his chances of survival".

The inquest also found that there was no VHF radio on board either vessel, the presence of which would have attracted helicopter assistance "faster and with greater ease".

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Coronavirus (COVID-19): Irish Sailing & Boating

Since restrictions began in March 2020, the Government is preparing for a 'controlled and gradual return to sport' and the 2020 sailing fixtures are being tentatively redrafted by yacht clubs, rowing clubs angling and diving clubs across Ireland as the country enters a new phase in dealing with the Coronavirus. The hope is that a COVID-19 restrictions might be eased by May 5th as Sport Ireland has asked national governing bodies for information on the challenges they face.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.

To help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) everyone has been asked to stay at home. But some people may need to do more than this.

You may need to either:

You do these things to stop other people from getting coronavirus.

Restricted movements

Everybody in Ireland has been asked to stay at home. You should only go out for a few reasons, such as shopping for food.

But you need to restrict your movements further if you:

live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, but you feel well

are a close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus

have returned to Ireland from another country

You need to restrict your movements for at least 14 days.

But if the person you live with has had a test and it is negative, you don't need to wait 14 days. You should still follow the advice for everyone - stay at home as much as possible.

Close contact

This is only a guide but close contact can mean:

spending more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of an infected person

living in the same house or shared accommodation as an infected person

How to restrict your movements

Follow the advice for everybody - stay at home.