A POSTMORTEM was carried out yesterday on the remains of a young man who died after apparently drowning while angling in Co Louth on Monday afternoon.
A Garda spokesman said there had been “valiant” efforts by members of Stephen Toner’s family to rescue him from the river Fane.
His body was recovered with the assistance of the Dundalk Sub Aqua Club at 8pm, some 4½ hours later.
Mr Toner (27) had gone fishing with one of his younger brothers and a nephew at Milltown, about 2km from the family home in Dromiskin village.
The Garda spokesman said: “Stephen got into difficulties, and despite heroic and valiant efforts by his family he could not be saved. The alarm was raised and gardaí attended, assisted by the Dundalk Sub Aqua Club and the Garda air support unit.”
Mr Toner was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was removed to the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk on Monday evening.
His funeral takes place tomorrow at St Peter’s Church, Dromiskin, at 2pm. His family has asked that donations, if desired, be given to the Dundalk Sub Aqua Club.
An inquest into Mr Toner’s death is expected to be held later in the year.