DIVERS FROM the Garda Water Unit are expected to join the search today in Ennis for the 31- year-old Polish father of one feared drowned after going for a swim in a swollen river on Wednesday night.
Przemyslaw Jablonski, who worked as a cook in Ennis, had been attending a house party at Springfield Orchard in the town when he left the apartment with a number of friends. He reportedly entered the river Fergus at the rear of the complex and was attempting to swim across to the other side when he was washed downstream in the strong current.
Mr Jablonski entered only yards from a sign which read: “No Entry – Deep Water – Do Not Swim.” He left his shoes, mobile phone and cigarettes on the river bank and jumped into the water wearing jeans and a T-shirt.
The river, which is about 20 metres wide at the point where the man entered, remains swollen following the recent rain and the river current has been described by rescuers as treacherous.
He was reported missing at about 7.30pm on Wednesday. However, it is understood that the man may have been unaccounted for for up to 20 minutes before the alarm was raised.
Mr Jablonski is a separated father of one who worked as a cook at The Grove bar and restaurant in Roslevan in Ennis. His former partner and child are in Poland. He has no family in Ireland, although his family have been contacted and are being kept notified of developments by gardaí through an interpreter.
As the search enters its fourth day today, the services involved have so far have included Doolin Coast Guard, Limerick Search and Rescue, Clare Fire Service, Clare Civil Defence, Burren Sub Aqua unit, gardaí and the Shannon- based Coast Guard helicopter.
Members of the Garda Water Unit arrived in Ennis yesterday where they carried out a surface risk assessment before deciding if it is safe to allow divers into the river.
It is expected that personnel from the Athlone-based unit will be able to dive in the river today and assist in the search for the missing man.