Buncrana 'numbed' as second teenager dies after Lough Swilly tragedy

A second teenager has died in a tragedy that has plunged Buncrana into a state of mourning.

It follows an incident on Saturday afternoon that sparked a major sea search in Lough Swilly.

Three teenagers got into difficulty while swimming and, after alarm was raised by a member of the public at around 4pm, the Malin Head Coastguard mounted a massive multi-agency operation.

The body of an adult teenager was recovered from the water shortly after 9pm by the Greencastle Coastguard between Ned’s Point and Fahan. His remains have since been transferred to Letterkenny University Hospital.

Overnight, a second teenager, a juvenile who was lifted from the water following the incident, passed away in hospital. He was rushed from Buncrana Pier, with the aid of a Garda escort, to Letterkenny University Hospital, where doctors battled in vain to save his life.

The coroner for County Donegal, Dr Denis McAuley, has been notified and post-mortem examinations on the remains of the two teenagers will be arranged in due course.

A third teenager, also a juvenile, was able to swim ashore and he is said to be in a comfortable condition in hospital.

Parish Priest Fr Francis Bradley touched on the subject at Sunday morning Mass in St Mary’s Oratory in Buncrana. 

“Despite the brightness and the b beauty around us, we mourn the deaths of two of our parishioners In Lough Swilly,” Fr Bradley said. 

“We pray for them. We pray for their families. We try to come to terms, yet again, with tragedy and sorrow on our coast.”

Several family members and close friends stood at the shore front frantically awaiting news after the alert was sounded.

Lifeboats scoured the calm waters of Lough Swilly while a fleet of local seamen combed areas closer to the coastline in a desperate search for the body of the missing male.

Several local lifeboat units were dispatched to the scene and the Rescue 118 helicopter and local Garda units were involved. Around a dozen local boats also assisted in an area of the water close to Ludden Beach.

“The sadness is unimaginable and once again Buncrana and the Inishowen area has been hit with such an unthinkable tragedy,” said Sinn Fein Councillor Jack Murray, the Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District.

“Everybody across the community is numb with this news. These people and their families are in our thoughts.”

Fianna Fáil Councillor Fiona Bradley said: "Buncrana and indeed Inishowen is simply numb from the news of this awful tragedy, which unfolded yesterday evening. 

“There's a black cloud over Buncrana yet again. For these three boys to go to the beach and enjoy the beautiful weather, the same as so many others their age, and then for tragedy to strike like this is simply incomprehensible.

“I know the Buncrana and Inishowen community will rally around them and support them in the days and months ahead, as always we do in times of tragedy. I would like to think the Coast Guard and all the search and rescue units and members of the public who were on scene for their assistance in the search."