Boy (7) who died after getting into difficulty at Sligo beach named locally
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the incident when the alarm was raised at Lissadell Beach
A young boy who died after getting into difficulty in the sea at a beach in Co Sligo yesterday afternoon has been named locally as Alan Singh from Ballisodare.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the incident when the alarm was raised at Lissadell Beach.
Volunteers from Sligo RNLI also responded to a call-out.
The boy (7) was given emergency medical treatment on the shore after being taken from the water.
The Irish Coast Guard's search and rescue helicopter Rescue 118 airlifted the boy to Sligo University Hospital, but he later died.
An Garda Síochána has said investigations into the tragedy are ongoing and a file will be prepared for the Coroner's Court.
The boy was a pupil at St John's National School in Ballisodare and it is understood his father runs a popular take away restaurant in the town.
Local Councillor, Thomas Walsh, said the local community is devastated by the news and said his thoughts and sympathies are with the boy's family, friends and classmates.
'Lissadell is known to be a safe and quiet beach and we are all saddened by what has happened,' he said.
A Critical Incident Management Policy is set to be put in place at St John's National School as the new school week begins tomorrow and will involve the National Educational Psychological Service of the Department of Education, who provide counselling and advice for pupils, parents and staff.
Last weekend there was a double tragedy in Co Donegal when schoolboys, Emmanuel Familola (16) and Matt Sibanda (18), died after getting into difficulty in the water at Ned's Point, Buncrana, last Saturday afternoon.
The young boys were playing football on the shoreline and had entered the water to retrieve the ball when the tragedy unfolded. A third youth managed to swim to safety.
The funeral of Emmanuel Familola took place at St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana on Saturday. The funeral of Matt Sibanda is due to take place in the coming week.
Last week the RNLI urged people to follow water safety advice as the current hot weather spell continues.
'We want people to be aware of the dangers, to know their limits and to not take risks. Go with others and look out for each other. Make sure your phone is charged so you can call for help if you come across anyone who needs it,' said Linda-Gene Byrne, RNLI Water Safety Lead.
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'If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water and in difficulty, know how to Float to Live. The best way to do this is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally. You can gently move your hands to help you stay afloat if you need to.
'Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability – and it's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety,' she added.
'Rip currents, which are channels of fast-flowing water running out to sea, can be difficult to spot and can catch out even the most confident and prepared swimmers. If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, stay calm – don't panic. If you can stand, wade. Don't try to swim. Raise your hand and shout for help loudly. Don't swim directly against the rip or you'll get exhausted. Swim parallel to the beach until free of the rip, then make for shore.
'Check the weather and tide times before you go – tides can go in and out very rapidly in some areas, causing people to become cut off, or quickly out of their depth – so find out the times of high and low tides before you set off,' she explained.
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