A coroner yesterday urged that inflatables such as air mattresses and dinghies be used only with extreme care along the sea shore.
Dr Michael Loftus was speaking at an inquest in Belmullet, Co Mayo into the deaths of Tisha (Patricia) Murphy (15) and her brother Niall (5) on July 19th last.
The youngsters, members of a family of 10, both drowned at Tra Mor, Belmullet, near their home, when Tisha went to rescue Niall after he began floating out to sea on an air mattress.
At yesterday's inquest Dr Loftus praised Tisha for giving her life to try to save her younger brother. "No greater courage can anyone show."
Dr Loftus also praised lifeguard Ms Michelle Healy for her valiant efforts.
The coroner appealed to the public to be extremely careful when using inflatable mattresses or dinghies.
"Breezes can spring up and sweep inflatables from the shore in a few minutes," he said.
Ten-year-old Noelle Murphy, a sister of the victims, gave evidence by way of statement to the inquest.
She said Niall and Tisha went over to the area near the convent as there was no water in the pool.
They had an air mattress and all three went into the water. After about an hour, she and Tisha got out and were talking on the shore.
"We were getting dressed and we noticed Niall going out further. I told Tisha to go in after him. She was not able to stand at that point," Noelle continued. "I ran up for Mammy and Daddy. They both came down. Mam told me go to a neighbour's house and get an ambulance."
Their father, Mr Sean Murphy, said he had come from the bog when Noelle ran into the house saying "the plastic thing that Niall had was floating out to sea and that they could not stop it".
The witness said when he drove to the end of Shore Road, he ran along the bank and all he could see was the mattress floating to sea.
"As I ran I was calling Niall and Tisha's names. Then I spotted their clothes on the rocks."
Mr Murphy said he took off his glasses and shoes and waded out into the water but there was nothing he could do. He used his mobile to ring 999.
He told the operator there were two people missing and they were from his own family.
"I kept shouting and roaring that it was too late at this stage because I spotted Niall floating in the water 50 metres or less away from me," he said.
The witness said Ms Healy, spotted Niall in the water and went out to get him.
After Niall had been brought ashore, he knew straight away that he was dead.
Evidence was given to the inquest by Supt Tony McNamara, second Coxswain of the Ballyglass Lifeboat, that efforts to revive Tisha proved unsuccessful after she was taken from the water by a local boat.
An inquest jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence that both youngsters died from asphyxia secondary to immersion in water.