This is the hero brother who died trying to save his older sister when she got into difficulty while they were both swimming at a Co Kerry beach during their holidays.
Dessie Byrne, 50, who lived in Lecarrow in Roscommon and his sister Muriel Eriksson, 62, who lived in Malmo in Sweden, both lost their lives in the horror drowning tragedy at Ballybunion beach on Thursday evening. Both are originally from Baylough in Athlone, Co Westmeath.
It is understood the siblings and their families were on the first day of their holiday in the Co Kerry tourist spot when Muriel got into difficulty. As Dessie tried to save Muriel he too got into difficulty.
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One of Dessie’s sons is understood to have been on the beach at the time of the tragedies and is understood to be in a state of shock and trauma after witnessing what happened.
Members of Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue and Ballybunion Coast Guard unit began CPR on Dessie, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.
At the same time, Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue searched the water and recovered Ms Eriksson, and transferred her to the beach. CPR was also carried out, but she too was pronounced dead.
Following the siblings’ tragic deaths, the tight-knit community of Lecarrow - a small village located in south Roscommon and 17km from Athlone - have been left shocked and numb.
Popular Dessie, who was an active member of Lecarrow Lazers Cycling Club, has been described as “a gentleman, a sociable man and a family man,” who was devoted to his wife Paulette and their two sons Josh and Dean.
“Their tragic deaths is unspeakable,” a shocked local Councillor Laurence Fallon told The Star yesterday.
“People here are numb. Dessie was a gentleman, a sociable man, a family man. He was always available to the community and would always pop up unannounced to help.
“He was very devoted to his family.
“His sister was over from Sweden and sadly she is gone now too making it even more of a tragedy.”
Cllr Fallon said Dessie, who was a talented carpenter, arrived in Lecarrow about 20 years ago from Athlone and “immediately got involved with the community and fitted in perfectly.”
Cllr Fallon recalled several experiences he had with Dessie.
“We had flooding at houses several years ago and Dessie was on top of it all with sandbags and all types of work,” he said.
“There was an old ball alley quite close to where he lived that had fallen into disrepair and Dessie was there to lend a hand with its repair,” Cllr Fallon continued.
“He also had a special association with the Carer’s Association that he was actively involved in trying to improve the care of people.
“He was a kind, decent man who helped out wherever he could,” said Cllr Fallon.
“Everyone is in complete shock. He was always there to help the community and we want his family to know we are all here for them as well during this tragic time.
“My deepest condolences to both Dessie and Muriel’s families,” he added.
Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Aengus McCarthy, who was also a friend of Dessie’s described him as “a softly spoken man who was the epitome of great craic.”
“He had the turn of phrase, he had the sense of humour, he had the timing, he had the memory of all the stories going back 30 years that we had forgotten about.
“I only bumped into him two weeks ago when he and his family were out for Sunday lunch and he was in great form as usual,” said Cllr McCarthy, who said he did not know Muriel as she was older than he and Dessie and moved to Malmo many years ago.
“Everyone is in disbelief of the awful tragedy and loss of Dessie and his sister Muriel.
“Dessie loved his two boys Dean and Josh and he was always attending Dean’s football matches.
“He was fit in body and mind and a great craftsman,” said Cllr McCarthy.
Owen O’Connor, a former PRO of Lecarrow Lazers Cycling Club and a member of the club said Dessie was “good craic, the life and soul of the party for our trips abroad.”
“We are all in shock over his and his sister’s passing. I knew him through the cycling club which he was a member of for many years. We did trips cycling with Dessie from Dublin to Lecarrow and trips to Wales and Scotland. He will be deeply missed.”
Lecarrow Lazers Cycling Club also paid tribute to the siblings offering its condolences to their heartbroken families.
In a post on social media, the club wrote: “It is with great shock and sadness that we have learned of the tragic passing of our dear friend and club mate Dessie Byrne and his sister Muriel in a drowning accident yesterday evening. On behalf of the Club we extend our sympathies to Dessie's family, relatives and friends.
The club also cancelled all of its activities for the weekend as a mark of respect for Dessie and Muriel.
Lecarrow Bikes also paid tribute to Dessie and Muriel offering their deepest condolences to Dessie’s heartbroken family and friends.
The Taoiseach has spoken of his shock and sadness at the tragedy which unfolded in Ballybunion, paying his deepest sympathy to the family and particularly family members who were on the beach and witnessed the incident.
Micheal Martin also paid tribute to the first responders and the emergency services who did “everything they could as quickly as they could”.
Speaking in Tarbert, Co Kerry, Mr Martin added: "It reminds us all how treacherous the seas and oceans can be."
The bodies of both deceased were removed from the scene by ambulance on Thursday evening to the mortuary at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee, where post mortem examinations are expected to take place.
The bodies of both deceased were removed from the scene by ambulance on Thursday evening to the mortuary at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee, where post mortem examinations are expected to take place.
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