ONE MAN has drowned and another is missing feared dead after they both went to the rescue of three people whose boat had capsized on a lake.
The three people who had been in the boat were later rescued.
The incident occurred yesterday evening on Gallon Lake, midway between Virginia and Bailieborough in Co Cavan. A boat carrying three people on the lake capsized at 6.45pm.
Two local men aged 19 and 20 years saw what was happening and entered the water in an attempt to save the people in distress.
However, both men got into difficulty almost immediately. Marine rescue were alerted to the incident by gardaí in Bailieborough.
A rescue helicopter was dispatched as local people tried to save the two would-be rescuers.
The three people who had capsized were taken from the waters and are safe and well.
One of the young men who had initially dived into the water to save them was taken from the lake and was taken by ambulance to Cavan General Hospital.
He was in a critical condition on arrival and later died.
The man who entered the water with him was missing last night and is feared dead.
One local fisherman said that the search operation by local people would continue through the night until the missing man was found.