Combined marine, fire and ambulance services worked with local residents and the Garda to recover a man from the sea in south Galway last night after the car he was driving left the pier in Kinvara writes Lorna Siggins.
The man, believed to be in his late seventies, was taken to hospital in Galway city where he died overnight.
The alarm was raised after the car left the pier close to the south Galway village shortly after 8 pm on Thursday.
The Galway RNLI inshore lifeboat, the Irish Coast Guard Rescue 115 Shannon-based helicopter, National Ambulance Service and Galway city and Gort fire brigade units were tasked, while locals and a fishing vessel assisted in locating the vehicle in the water.
The man was taken from the vehicle at about 9 pm and attempts were made to resuscitate him before taking him to hospital in Galway by ambulance.
The Irish Coast Guard’s Doolin unit also despatched a rescue craft by road to the scene.
The car was lifted by crane from the water before 9.30 pm, and it was established that the man was the only occupant.