Man dies after car enters water at Mayo quay

GARDAÍ in Mayo are investigating the death of a man in Newport after a vehicle drove off the sea wall in the west Mayo town this afternoon.

The tragedy occurred at approximately 5.30pm this afternoon when emergency services received a report of a vehicle entering the water at the Point area of Newport Quay.

A number of people were in the area at the time and witnessed the car entering the water and some jumped into the water to try to assist the male driver but were unable to do so.

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Members of the Westport Coast Guard unit as well as An Garda Siochána, fire service and the Irish Coast Guard emergency helicopter attended the location and local divers later retrieved the body of a male from the vehicle. Emergency services confirmed there were no other people in the car when it entered the water.

It is understood that the deceased male aged in his 60s lived in the Newport area. His body was transferred to Mayo University Hospital where a post mortem is due to take place to determine the cause of death.

The car was taken from the water shortly after 8pm and the area has been sealed off pending a garda forensic examination of the area.

A Garda investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident and any witnesses are asked to contact Westport Garda Station.