A heroic Irish father who drowned while trying to save his daughter in Australia has been named by friends and family in heartbreaking tributes.
Paul Doran, from Co Kildare, was from the well-known Pat Doran Construction family and tragically died rescuing his 11-year-old daughter last Wednesday evening at Seven Mile Beach on Lennox Head, around two hours south of Brisbane.
It has been revealed that the family had only moved to Australia in the last few months having moved from Tipperkevin in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare.
Family friend Rose Barrett O’Donoghue said the village of Ballymore Eustace was “reeling” from the news.
“There are no words to lessen the pain, nothing that can be said to reduce the heartbreak the Doran family is feeling today,” she wrote on the Ballymore Eustace Facebook page.
The family were having an evening swim at the beach on Wednesday when Mr Doran’s daughter Lyra found herself in trouble on a bodyboard.
They were swimming in shallow water she was swept out to sea.
Mr Doran swam out to help her but neither of them were able to get back to shore, so Mrs Doran then swam out.
She successfully retrieved their daughter and alerted authorities that her husband was still in the water. Two police officers, who were first on the scene, entered the surf in an attempt to find him but were unsuccessful.
Mr Doran was eventually retrieved around half an hour later by surf lifesavers. New South Wales ambulance paramedics initiated CPR but were unable to revive him and he died at the scene.
Lifeguard Scott McCartney told 9News they were alerted to “a man in distress” around 6.30 pm after the girl was swept away in a “perfect storm” of “unforgiving” conditions.
Another tribute on the Facebook page said: “There are no words to lessen the pain, nothing that can be said to reduce the heartbreak the Doran family is feeling.
“It is cruel for his wife Simonne and their three children, dreadful for Helen and Paddy, and for Paul's siblings Aoife, Emma, Sarah and Gavin and their extended families.”
Paul’s colleague Jeff Colley shared an emotional tribute and revealed his crucial role in the 600 new homes in the country’s largest social and affordable scheme at Shankill in Co Dublin.
Mr Colley said: “Paul was one of the best and most forward-thinking builders I've ever encountered, a modest man who had a big impact.
“He had recently moved to Australia and was caught in a riptide trying to save his daughter, who mercifully survived.
“My heart breaks for his wife Simonne, Paul, Pat and Simonne worked together to deliver some extraordinary buildings.
“Without him, the likes of the 600-unit Shanganagh project - Ireland's largest passive house project - wouldn't be happening.
“It was a pleasure to have known Paul. May he rest in peace.”
