Accidental death recorded in death of Killary diver

Anton McNulty

Accidental death was the verdict recorded in the drowning of a Connemara man who died after diving in Killary Harbour earlier this summer.
Martin Nee (47) of Lettergesh West, Renvyle, Co Galway, died in a diving accident on May 28 last while helping friends remove debris that had caught on a salmon-fishing net. The net was located on the seabed near the shore, across from Nancy’s Point in Leenane.
The married father of three young children and mussel farmer had successfully completed a diving course in 2009 but was not a regular diver. An expert report into the accident found that all the pieces of equipment used during the dive ‘generally performed in accordance with their requirements’.
Patrick Mortimer told the inquest in Castlebar that on the morning of May 28, he mentioned to Mr Nee that his fishing net had got caught on the seabed, and Mr Nee had offered to take a look.
Along with his uncle, John Mortimer, Patrick met Mr Nee shortly after 5pm and they went to the location of the dive. He said Mr Nee put on all his equipment and that everything was fine until he went into the water.
Mr Mortimer said Mr Nee surfaced after five minutes, explained what was caught on the net and because he had plenty of air in the tank, said he would have another look. He said Mr Nee was swimming on the surface, in a snorkelling position, when his left arm rose. Mr Mortimer thought he was going to dive again.
“His head went head first into the water, his body angle changed and his legs came up into the air. As the tank went down, his legs were up sticking out of the water to around his knee,” he said.
“I looked at Marty at all times, and then thought his position just didn’t look right and his legs were not moving. The bubbles had stopped and I said to John that there was something wrong.”
Mr Mortimer said he went out into the water and brought him close to shore and lay him on rocks. He took off his equipment before starting compressions and calling the emergency services.
Brigid Gavin of the Leenane Red Cross Cardiac First Responders Group arrived about 15 minutes later and they brought Mr Nee onto the dry shore. She continued to do CPR and used a defibrillator as more members of the group arrived.
Mr Nee was pronounced dead at 7.48pm.
An inspection of the equipment showed that Mr Nee had dived between six and eight metres on the day. Rory Golden, an expert in diving, examined the equipment and found that it was not defective and that the tank was 60 percent full.
Dr Fadel Bennani, the consultant pathologist who performed the postmortem, found that Mr Nee was a healthy man who suffered no injuries. He determined that the cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning. He said the regulator would have to be out of his mouth for the water to enter his lungs.
After considering all the facts, Mr John O’Dwyer, coroner for south Mayo,  recorded a verdict of accidental death and extended his sympathies to Catherine Nee, wife of the deceased, and  their three children, Ciara, Eimear and Aoife.
He also commended the volunteers of the Red Cross Cardiac First Responders who, he said,  assist and care for of the community without necessarily receiving recognition for the work they do.
Mr James Cahill, solicitor for the Nee family, said the inquest showed that Mr Nee was a hardworking and generous neighbour. He said the family also felt for the Mortimers, whose grief, he said was obvious.