An investigation into the death of a young man who lost his life in a jet ski incident in East Clare two years ago has found the vessel capsized because he was proceeding at an unsafe speed and conducting unsafe manoeuvres.
The report also reveals the casualty wasn’t wearing a lifejacket at the time of the incident, didn’t have the required training, had intoxicant in his system and couldn’t swim.
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has compiled the report detailing the investigation into a marine casualty involving a jet ski near Shannon Bridge in the Killaloe Ballina area on May 31st 2023.
The report outlines that on the date in question at around 4pm, a Sea-Doo personal watercraft was launched into the water at a public slipway south of Ballina.
The casualty was joined on the personal watercraft by a passenger, referred to a Passenger Number One, who was initially wearing a borrowed personal flotation device which she returned after the trip.
At approximately 4:30pm, he was joined by another passenger, referred to as Passenger Number Two, along with Passenger Number One again from the Ballina pontoon.
The casualty gave Passenger Number Two his personal flotation device, meaning only one passenger was wearing one during the final part of the incident.
At roughly 5pm, the watercraft passed the pontoon at speed and made a sharp left turn in area described as “approximately mid-river”.
All three persons fell when the watercraft capsized and while the two passengers were able to swim ashore, the driver wasn’t visible.
After the alarm was raised, a search and rescue operation was commenced and the casualty’s body was recorded at 6:45pm.
The report states that the casualty occurred because the operator was proceeding at an unsafe speed in excess of the local area bye-law limit of five kilometres which was clearly displayed on the slipway.
It also states he was conducting unsafe manouevres, wasn’t wearing a personal flotation device, couldn’t swim, had only just acquired the vehicle, and that “the presence of intoxicant in the system could have impaired his judgement”.
Furthermore, the report states “the lack of the casualty having any experience with operating such a powerful machine and not having the skills, knowledge, and experience that are obtained through training for a PWC was a contributory factor in this marine casualty”.
You can read the full report here.
