Divers criticised after €50,000 rescue operation

Divers criticised after €50,000 rescue operation
PAT FLYNN

Tue, Mar 17, 2009

SEVEN DIVERS rescued after a massive search in Kilkee, Co Clare, on Saturday were “young and inexperienced and should not have gone diving in those conditions”, according to the Kilkee Marine Rescue Service.

The criticism has been strongly rejected by the chairman of the diving club.

It has been estimated that the cost of the massive search and rescue operation could be as much as €50,000 and could have been avoided if the divers had sought advice locally on the conditions.

The seven men, all members of Athlone Sub Aqua Club, were carried by a strong current 600 metres out to sea over the top of a dangerous reef. The men had gone diving close to George’s Head at about midday and unknown to the operator of their safety boat, the group was carried some distance from their original location and were lucky to have survived.
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2009 The Irish Times