Inquest hears promising rally driver died after becoming trapped in car

A County Derry rally driver drowned after he became trapped in his car which plunged into a reservoir at Lough Island Reavy, Kilcoo an inquest heard yesterday. 28 year-old Ryan Bradley (pictured) from Kilrea was taking part in the Down Rally on October 18 last year when the accident occurred at a sharp right-hand bend at the Lackan Road, Castlewellan during the first stage of the event. Ryan’s co-driver/ navigator, Gerard Mullan managed to free himself from his harness and escape through an opening in the car window as the car sank into the water. Mr Mullan then swam to the bank and scrambled up a steep incline to the road where he raised the alarm by flagging down another rally car. Gerard was visibly upset as he recalled the tragic turn of events which then unfolded. He told coroner, Brian Sherrard that as their Ford Escort crashed through branches, he was confident that Ryan ‘would work his magic.’ He said:“Ryan was driving well within his ability. Looking back now we were probably carrying too much speed. The car was going between 70 and 90mph. In my view the car didn’t make the corner. “Once the car hit the water, I took a deep gulp and thought this is it. I thought I was going to die,” he said. “I got an opening in the passenger’s window and managed to escape. I started swimming and when I reached the shore I called for Ryan but he wasn’t behind me,” said Gerard. The inquest also heard from Ryan’s girlfriend, Gemma McGarry. The couple had been going out for almost two years and had made plans to get married. Gemma said her last words to Ryan on the morning of the rally, were ‘be safe and have fun.’ She told the inquest yesterday that when she heard Ryan was involved in an accident, she initially thought it was a ‘rescue operation rather than a recovery [operation]’ She said: “I remember the police officer telling me that Ryan was dead. I couldn’t take it in. My whole world fell apart. I remember thinking I can’t live without Ryan. He was everything to me, my future, my soul mate. “He was my true love, there will never be anyone him again,” she said. The inquest was told that Ryan and Gemma had travelled to Castlewellan the day before the rally to complete a reconnaissance (recky) of the course as Gerard was unable to make it. Gemma said that the first time she had heard about the reservoir was after the accident. She said: “I had a note book and I had to mark down any issues of safety during the recky. As we made our way around the course, Ryan was telling me to mark things down. I had my head down for most of it so I don’t remember seeing the reservoir. There was no mention of the reservoir. The first time I was told about it was after the accident.” Ms McGarry also spoke of Ryan’s apprehension after finding out that there was no driver’s briefing. She said: “Normally there is a drivers’ briefing and he was concerned that he had missed it, so he was quite apprehensive about that, especially as it was a championship.” The inquest also heard that the Motor Sports Association is currently compiling a report of an investigation into the accident. The inquest was adjourned until the corner receives a copy of the report.