Hero warns of Mask dangers

‘Someone will be drowned on Lough Mask’ warns rescue hero

Emer Gallagher

TOURMAKEADY rescue hero Mick Dunne has warned that a life will be lost on Lough Mask before long if due care is not taken.
Mr Dunne, from Gurteenmore, has been hailed as a hero in the south Mayo village after he came to the rescue of five German tourists recently. The keen angler was on the shores of the lake with his dog checking his boat when a German man swam to shore shouting and in an obvious state of distress. After grappling with the language barrier, Mick realised what the problem was and took action. He rigged up his boat and engine and rescued the four stranded visitors, who were in a serious state of distress when the rescue took place.
The five tourists had been out on the lake in canoes when the winds flared up and they were thrown out of the canoes. The Germans were approximately 300 to 400 yards from the shore on the lake that is up to 200-foot deep in certain areas.
“I was in the right place at the right time and they were lucky that I was there or they could have drowned,” said the fisherman who added that Lough Mask is well known in fishing circles as an extremely dangerous lake.
“A tragedy is going to happen. I have had a few near misses myself and I am an experienced fisherman.” The Allergan employee said the changing weather conditions can mean that it can be calm and peaceful when setting out but it can change very easily with strong winds.
Mr Dunne said tourists going out on to the lake in rented boats or dinghies are not fully aware of the dangers and they are not monitored. He said there are no warning signs about the dangers on the lake for tourists.
A rescue lifeboat service was launched in Tourmakeady last October following pleas from the local community after the death of 22-year-old Patrick O’Hare in a jet ski accident in May of last year. The lifeboat, a state-of-the-art Halmatic Rib, costing over €40,000, was purchased by the local community and is moored at the secondary school, overlooking the shores of Lough Mask.
A total of 15 people underwent intensive training at the time, under the tutelage of the Red Cross/Corrib Rescue service, to become qualified water rescue lifeguards adding to the existing fully trained lifeguards in the area.