Garda Divers have located the body of missing Kayaker Declan Reid from the River Barrow outside Athy this afternoon.
Mr. Reid, aged 34, was on the river kayaking with his 8-year-old son on Sunday last when they both got into difficulty. The boy was rescued by a passer-by, however, rescue efforts to save his Father failed due to the current of the river.
Laois Civil Defence Operational Support Unit. Photo via civildefence.ie
Garda divers, assisted by swift water rescue teams from fire services in Athy, Stradbally, Co. Laois and Carlow Town and Civil Defence teams from Kildare and Laois searched the river on Sunday last.
Search team volunteers from Kildare. Laois and Dublin branches of the Civil Defence maintained search operations on the river since the man went missing.
Several boats, drones and land searchers were involved in the week-long search with an average of 30 civil defence volunteers on a daily basis.
Local canoe club members also joined the search.
Today, up to 80 Civil Defence search personnel from counties Kildare, Laois, Dublin, Waterford and Kilkenny assisted divers from the Garda Water Unit based in Athlone, Co. Westmeath and Dublin.
Mr. Reid’s body was located by garda divers this afternoon.
Kildare Civil Defence Officer Patricia McNeela said it brings closure to the family and she thanked the volunteers involved in the search. and said ‘the search skills and technical experiences of our volunteers shines through when we are called-in to a search. “We had four boats and a number of rafts on the river. I’d like to thank all the volunteers that assisted in the search and each of the Civil Defence Officers from the various counties who helped coordinate the search, it finally brings closure to the family and I know they are very grateful for all the work that we have done.”
Audio: Kildare CDO Patricia McNeela speaking to Emergency Times.
