An Irish man who has not been seen since diving into water in the Rocky Mountains in Canada told his friends he was "in paradise" shortly before he died in a swimming accident.
Brian Gavin, an uncle of David Gavin (26) from Castlebar, Co Mayo, said on Wednesday that his nephew was "smiling to the end" as he travelled with his team-mates from ISSC Vancouver GAA club to a match in Calgary.
He was last seen on June 30th after diving from a bridge spanning the Beaver Creek which flows into Kinbasket Lake in British Columbia. Despite a large search operation, no trace of his body has been found.
At a memorial Mass for David in the Church of the Holy Rosary in Castlebar, Brian Gavin said the family had been overwhelmed by the support shown since David disappeared.
Tribute
He paid tribute to those who were involved and continue to be involved in the search and those who contributed to a fund that will support the continuation of the operation.
Brian Gavin said David was a young man with a great energy, curiosity and sense of adventure to him. He had “lived, loved and laughed” during his 26 years. David is survived by his parents Michael and Angela, his sister Aoife, and girlfriend Ciara O’Malley and extended family.
Fr John McCormack told mourners that the loss of a child was “every parent’s worst nightmare”. He said David and members of his GAA team had stopped off to swim at Kinbasket Lake in order to cool off as they travelled to Calgary.
“Innocently, some of them walked to a bridge that overlooks this beautiful place,” Fr McCormack said. “It was at a height David was comfortable with. He often had jumped from greater heights before. He resurfaced and then disappeared. His friends responded immediately but were unable to save him.”
Gifts
He added: “What went wrong we don’t know and we will never know unless David is found.”
David's team-mates from Breaffy GAA Club brought gifts to the altar including football boots and jerseys, and a jar of sand and water from Kinbasket Lake.
Mourners included members of the Mayo football team, former taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife, Fionnuala, former EU commissioner and minister Pádraig Flynn and Mayo County Council chief executive Peter Hynes.