Heartbroken dad's water safety message

THE father of a young Irishman who died in a recent tragedy in Canada and whose body has not yet been recovered has issued a heartfelt plea to young people not to take risks when engaged in water-based activities. 

Michael Gavin, father of 26-year-old David, said that too often young swimmers – particularly males – overestimate their capabilities.

Castlebar-based Mr. Gavin, who is water safety officer with Mayo County Council, said jumping from a height from a bridge, as David did in British Columbia on June 30, was 'not something one would be promoting'.

He added: “Anything can go wrong when you're jumping into the unknown.â€

Michael and Angela Gavin, along with Aoife, their daughter, David's girlfriend, Ciara O'Malley, and other family members, have been in Canada since early July as the search for the young GAA player continues.

They returned last week for a memorial Mass in Castlebar which was followed by the planting of a maple tree (symbol of Canada) at a nearby lake and the releasing of a dove in moving ceremonies.

Now, prior to his departure back to Canada to resume the search for his only son, Michael has delivered a strong safety message to all water users.

He said: “Since David drowned there have been a number of other Irish citizens who have also drowned, so we are not the only family suffering the pain of a loved one lost to drowning.

“Statistics show that young males are four times more likely to die by drowning than females in Ireland. Coincidentally, the figures are very similar to those in British Columbia.â€

For the first time, Mr. Gavin has revealed further details of the tragedy on June 30 at a logging bridge on the Beaver River, British Columbia, as David and a number of teammates from ISSC GAA Club, Vancouver, were travelling to a football match in Calgary.

As they waited in sweltering heat for other teammates to catch up, David decided to jump from a height from the logging bridge into the river which feeds Kinbasket Lake (a local reservoir).

Now Mr. Gavin says that, luckily, greater tragedy was averted. “It's tragic and traumatic for our family but it could be far worse than it is.â€

He explained that two football mates who were with David before he jumped off the bridge rushed down a 50-metre incline through trees and bushes and risked their lives by jumping onto logs in a bid to save his son. 

“The lads showed considerable bravery and their actions were completely natural and admirable.

“A local resident, Blaire Morton, who heard the shouting, came on the scene in a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) and brought them to safety.â€

Mr. Gavin explained that David, although a strong swimmer, would have been unaware of the dangers he was facing before he jumped into the Beaver River.

He elaborated: “On a sweltering day, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius, David did not consider the temperature of the water. The Beaver River is fed by waters from glaciers. 

“Anybody diving in risks heart failure due to cold shock. David would also have been unaware of the fact that the river, which looks nice and calm on the surface, has extremely strong undercurrents.

“I appeal to young people, males in particular, to think about what they are doing and not to take unnecessary risks.â€

Mr. Gavin said David was strong and could swim but would not have been a competitive swimmer by any means.

He continued: “Just because you can swim doesn't mean you know everything about water. David, like a lot of lads in general, would have been naive as regards personal safety around water and would not have been familiar with the shock risk posed by icy waters.â€

David and his girlfriend had been living in Vancouver since February. They both loved their new lives in Canada, with David revelling in the opportunity to practice new pastimes, such as skiing, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

Michael and Angela planned a trip to Vancouver to see their only son in September. 

Eyes moistening, Michael explained: “Our plans were to do all the things he had done, have a look around, enjoy the magnificent scenery.â€

In the long term, the family are optimistic that David will be found. Michael says that may not happen before winter, when the search will have to be suspended due to rivers and lakes in British Columbia being frozen hard and covered in snow.

Ciara has been David's girlfriend since their schooldays. According to Michael Gavin, she has been a 'driving force', constantly pushing the searchers to even greater efforts while all the time reminding other river and lake users of the need to wear lifejackets.

In these dark days for the extended Gavin and O'Malley families, the kindness of community, even total strangers, has shone like a beacon. 

Thousands of people, many of them members of the united GAA community worldwide, have contributed to a fundraising drive which has enabled the search of the Beaver River and Kinbasket Lake to continue.

Both Breaffy GAA Club in Co. Mayo and ISSC Vancouver are central to the fundraising efforts, as is Mayo County Council, Michael and Angela's employers.

When the Gavins do return to the Calgary area they are assured of a renewed welcome from new friends such as Brian Colombe who crafted a special cedarwood plaque that is now fixed to the bridge where David went swimming.

Central to the actual search effort are a couple whom the Gavins say will be their 'friends for life' - an Idaho couple, Gene and Sandy Ralston.

The Ralstons specialise in finding bodies lost in lakes and rivers throughout North America. Over the past 17 years they have been successful in the recovery of 110 bodies throughout the continent.

Anybody wishing to support the David Gavin Fund can do so on gofundme.ie. As much funds as possible are required to support the search and associated expenses in locating David and getting him home.