A teenage boy has died after getting into difficulty in water at Lough Ree in Co Westmeath.
Gardaí and emergency services responded to the incident in the water at Carnakilla Point, Glasson, shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday.
A spokesperson said: “Following a search operation a male juvenile, 15, was recovered from the water a short time later.
“He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
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“The deceased was removed to the mortuary at Mullingar Hospital where a postmortem examination will be arranged.
“A file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Aengus O’Rourke said he was saddened to hear of the drowning and could only imagine what the boy’s family was going through.
He said he and his son, who is a similar age to the boy who drowned, were on the other side of the lake on Saturday when they saw the coastguard helicopter fly in, giving him “pause for thought”. His own son was out swimming in the lake at the time.
He was not aware of the circumstances at the time and learned on Saturday night that there had been a fatality.
“What an utter tragedy to have a juvenile lose their life this way at a time when everyone else is enjoying themselves in good weather… Just awful,” he said.- Additional reporting PA
