Accidental verdict recorded in west Mayo drowning

A WESTPORT native who drowned while swimming off Old Head beach in July has been described as ‘the most gentle and gorgeous sister’.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded into the death of 66-year-old artist Cathy Hughes of Dún na Carraige, Salthill, Co Galway. Ms Hughes drowned while swimming off Old Head on July 21 last.

The inquest into Ms Hughes’s death took place in Swinford Courthouse yesterday afternoon. Those present heard that her body was found floating in the water shortly after 4pm. Members of the local Order of Malta along with HSE ambulance personnel performed CPR without success and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ms Hughes’s brother, Harry Hughes, told Coroner Pat O’Connor that the death of his sister has been particularly difficult for her son, William, and daughter, Isabelle, as well as for all the family. However, he said, it had been ‘made a bit easier’ by the professionalism of all those who came to her aid.

“On behalf of the extended Hughes family, we really appreciate the services who attended on the day – the HSE ambulance, the Order of Malta, but I want to pay particular thanks to Garda Mary Murphy, who was highly professional with us and was very kind on the day. Cathy was the most gentle and gorgeous sister and we really appreciate all the services you gave us,” he said, while also thanking Mr O’Connor.

Regular swimmer

Ms Hughes, who was a regular sea swimmer at Old Head beach, had been staying in a local apartment and she had gone for a swim in the sea at around 2.30pm on July 21.

Harry Hughes said that he and his brother, Vincent, also had apartments in the building, and they had invited Cathy to join them after her swim to watch the All-Ireland hurling final.

Garda Mary Murphy told Mr O’Connor that Sarah Page, a visitor to the area, was identified as the person who discovered Ms Hughes floating in the water.

Ms Page told Garda Murphy that she was with her eight-year-old grand-daughter and her friend on the ‘second beach’ of Old Head when she saw something out on the water. She first thought that it was a person snorkelling, but it became apparent that there was no sign of life.

Ms Page said the time was around 4pm. She went to the lifeguard cabin and explained what she had seen. Ms Hughes was taken from the water by lifeguards.

Garda Murphy said CPR continued on the casualty until 5.15pm, when she was pronounced dead.

Vincent Hughes told the inquest that his sister was a regular sea swimmer and had swum at least four times during the week prior to the day of her death.

He explained that while he and Harry were watching the hurling they heard the emergency services at the pier, and they walked down to see what was going on. He said they heard that a woman had died on the far beach, but they thought nothing of it and returned to the apartment to watch the hurling.

Mr Hughes added that he called to his sister’s apartment, but when he got no reply he got a feeling that something may have happened, and he and his brother both returned to the beach

He said he met Garda Murphy and expressed his concern that the body could be that of his sister, and he later identified her.

Ms Hughes had been wearing a wetsuit while in the water. The post mortem revealed that her death was due to asphyxia caused by drowning.

Mr O’Connor, Coroner for the District of Mayo, recorded a verdict of accidental death and described what had occurred as a ‘tragic accident’.

He added that he had had the pleasure of knowing Ms Hughes, and he extended his sympathies to her son and daughter and the wider Hughes family, who he described as the ‘pillars of society’.