Man dies in Boyne despite rescue attempts

By FI0NA MAGENNIS, Drogheda Independent - Wednesday 3rd January 2007

ONE man died in the early hours of New Year’s Eve after he entered the River Boyne and became entangled under a tree.

Members of the Boyne Fishermen’s Rescue and Recovery Service (BFRRS) and the gardaí received an emergency callout shortly after 3am on Sunday morning after a man was seen entering the river close to the Haymarket bridge.

Both emergency services were on the scene within minutes but the man was already under the water by this time.

Members of the BFRRS entered the water immediately and attempted to save the man from the water.

However, a number of dives had to be made to free the man who had become trapped under a tree.

The man was eventually freed and brought to the surface but he had stopped breathing by this stage. Members of the BFRRS immediately began to carry out CPR on the casualty as the boat made its way back up the river.

CPR was continued by the rescue team and ambulance crew as the man was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

The man was later pronounced dead at the Lourdes hospital.

Although he has not yet been named, the deceased is believed to be a 33-year-old local man.