The public is being warned that water safety needs to be at the forefront of everyone’s minds as they head for a dip amid the current heatwave.
Sadly, there have been three drownings over the past week, prompting Minister Eamon Ryan to plead with people to "be careful out there.”
He said that unfortunately, "It happens every time, it's so predictable but so tragic for every family.”
READ MORE: Man, 60s, dies after getting into difficulty in Co Laois lake
He offered his condolences to all three families who have lost someone in recent days and said: "Let's not make it a fourth family, destroyed, ruined, in this good weather.”
Ryan went on to say that people need to avoid water if they’re unsure if it is safe, stay close to the shoreline and look out for the people they’re spending the weekend with.
"Be careful, don't go into waters that you don't know how safe they are, stay close to the shore, look after each other, we don't want another tragic loss,” he insisted.
On Tuesday, a teenage boy died after getting into difficulty while swimming at a Dublin beach.
Emergency services were called to the scene at Burrow Beach in Sutton at around 7.30 pm on Sunday, July 11.
A rescue helicopter and the Irish Coast Guard team were deployed to help the boy, who had become distressed while swimming at sea.
He was pulled from the water and taken to Beaumont Hospital in serious condition. The boy was later taken to Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street where he passed away.
Then on Wednesday, a man in his 40s died in hospital after he and a young child got into difficulty while swimming.
They were pulled out to sea at Fanore in north Co Clare at around 9.15 pm on the evening of July 13.
The alarm was raised and a search and rescue operation was quickly put in motion.
On arrival at the scene, emergency services found that a young child had been taken to safety by others in the area while the helicopter crew carried out a search for the man.
He was quickly located and the helicopter winchman/paramedic was lowered into the sea to pluck the casualty from the water.
Efforts to resuscitate the man were quickly carried out on board the helicopter as he was flown to University Hospital Galway.
However, he was pronounced dead soon after arriving at the hospital.
Yesterday, a man died after getting into difficulty while out for a swim in Portarlington in Co. Laois on Saturday.
The 60-year-old was taken from the water after the incident occurred at Derryounce Lake at around 3:30 pm on July 16.
He was then rushed by ambulance to Portlaoise General Hospital but was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
As the sunny weather looks set to continue, Water Safety Ireland’s open water swimming safety tips include:
- Get to know where you are swimming and check the condition before going in.
- Make sure you are properly equipped.
- Beware of the cold.
- Make sure someone knows where you have gone and why, and that you have the means to call for help, especially in remote locations.
- Take note of local safety advice and respect the countryside, landowners and other users.
Locations to be particularly cautious about include:
- quarries and reservoirs, which can be deceptively deep and cold throughout the year.
- rivers with features such as weirs and fast flowing water.
- potentially polluted locations near to rainwater run-offs, livestock and estuarial waters.
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