TWO KAYAKERS died at a dangerous weir where life-saving equipment had been vandalised and was not replaced, according to an official investigation.
The weir at Portlaw in Co Waterford which last year claimed the lives of the two men – Philip Kelly and Connie Smith – has been described by investigators as “dangerous and unnavigable”.
The finding was made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board in its report into the tragedy of April 7th, 2010.
Mr Kelly, Aherlow, Co Tipperary, and Mr Smith, Killeshandra, Co Cavan, had been kayaking with a friend, Derek Elliott, of Knockaderry, Co Limerick. The three travelled from Whitestown, Co Waterford, to the top of the weir at Portlaw. They found the river “quite swollen” and decided to walk to where they had left one of their two cars.
At a disused factory they heard dogs barking and, believing security dogs were a risk, decided “running the weir” would be safer.
Mr Smith got back into the water first but when he failed to emerge on the far side of the weir, Mr Kelly went in after him. Both shouted to Mr Elliott to get help.
He met a man living locally, Tomas Bakierzynski. They got a washing line and made several attempts to throw it to the kayakers. Neither reacted or made any attempt to catch the line and, after about 10 minutes, Mr Bakierzynski contacted the emergency services. The fire service was “unable to effect a rescue” and the Dunmore East Coast Guard was enlisted. The bodies were later recovered at the bridge at Portlaw.
The investigation board found the weir at Portlaw is, by design, “next to impossible” to escape without lifebuoys or an access ladder, and that there was no safety equipment or life-saving devices at the scene. It called for “adequate and visible signage” to warn users the weir is “dangerous and unnavigable”.
Waterford County Council told the board signage had been installed, with life-saving equipment. It said life-saving devices had previously been installed but were vandalised and eventually not replaced. The new devices will be monitored by the Suir River Rescue Service, the council wrote.
A recommendation that the public be prevented from using the weir for recreational purposes was “more of a problem”, the council said, as it would require barriers which could result in flooding issues. The council is to review this situation to see if alternative measures can be taken.