Tribute paid to Erris fisherman who died in boating tragedy

THE fisherman has died when a boat sank off the Mayo coast yesterday has been named locally.

He is 57-year-old John Healy, Inver, a widely known and respected figure in the Erris area.

He and and two males in their 20s were on board the Aisling Patrick fishing boat when the vessel got into difficulty yesterday afternoon.

The three men were crab fishing around 16 nautical miles from Eagle Island when the tragedy occurred.

Extending heartfelt sympathy to the Healy family on their loss, local Councillor Gerry Coyle said the community is in deep shock.

“The deceased was a hardworking man all his life and the tragic news has cast a dark cloud over the entire area. John was held in very high regard by everybody who knew him. My heart goes out to the bereaved family. It is a very difficult time.”

According to national newspaper reports, the Air Corps' Casa maritime patrol aircraft happened to be patrolling the area and spotted the men on the life raft after they set off flares.

The Sligo-based Coast Guard helicopter located the life raft at about 1.20 p.m. The crew were rushed to hospital after rescuers winched them to safety aboard the helicopter.

Volunteers from the Ballyglass RNLI also responded to the emergency.

Mr. Healy was pronounced dead at University Hospital Sligo at around 4 p.m. The other crew members were kept overnight at the hospital.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has launched an investigation.