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Updated 11.47am
A DONEGAL WOMAN has died after she fell overboard from a boat on Lough Erne, in the northern county of Fermanagh during the night.
Emergency services were called to scene at 1.20am this morning, after reports that the woman had fallen overboard at Devenish Island on the lake.
She is believed to have been in her 30s and was on a family holiday with her husband and two children, and was on a rented boat at the time.
PSNI Chief Inspector Clive Beatty told BBC’s Good Morning Ulster that the woman’s husband tried to jump into the lake to rescue her, but wasn’t able to reach her.
They are a family from Donegal and they were up here on holiday just for the Easter weekend.
He added: “We performed CPR ourselves and transferred them to the ambulance who continued to conduct CPR until 2:57 when the woman was pronounced deceased at the hospital”.
Earlier, Inspector Gavin Sterling said: “A full search operation was implemented and sadly a body was recovered from the water before 3am this morning.”
Sterling said that a full investigation into the circumstances around the incident is now underway. A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out soon.
He added: “Local police would extend their sympathies to the family and would offer thanks to all of the agencies involved in the overnight operation.”
DUP leader Arlene Foster sent her condolences to the family of the woman in a statement this morning.
She said: “This is heartbreaking news for the area. I want to extend my sympathy, thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of this young woman. The death of a young life will come as an immense shock to this area and in particular the woman’s family.”
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Thoughts and prayers with her family and friends. God rest her. The water in the lake and sea is bitterly cold this time of year. Even strong swimmers can be incapacitated by cold water shock.
Please people/- be cautious around water.RIP. Poor woman.
Very sad to think that a family out on an Easter weekend break could end so tragically. The second such tragic incident in the past fortnight, a couple drowned from a cruiser in Carrick on Shannon just over a week ago.
Should’ve been wearing a live jacket
@Jlocoroco: true .. it would have saved her ..
@Jlocoroco: so you know all the details of the incident , do you? You know for a fact that she wasn’t sleepwalking? And you would know to put on your life jacket when you’re sleep walking. Bloody know it all.
@Jlocoroco: so you know all the details of the incident do you? You know for a fact she wasn’t sleep walking? Would you remember to wear a life jacket on if you were sleep walking? Bloody know at all
@Suzie Sunshine: another know at all that knows everything about this poor girl’s fate. Shame on you
@Donegal Doseofshh: Well it states in the media that she went out to check the robes before going to bed. She should have been wearing a life jacket, whether asleep or not, if she is on a boat in the water. Hence forth we can assume that she was not sleepwalking, so stop condemning others for your lack of knowledge.
A mother of 2 kids from Donegal on a family holiday. Husband dived in to save her but couldn’t find her. RIP.
Now folks THAT is victim blaming!!
Hard for that man ,to have to watch that.Lord have mercy on his loved one and strengthen him at this time.
@SuzukaYuiMoa:
If you have to ask that question you should stay away from boats yourself, accidents happen and being able to swim is no guarantee against drowning.
RIP.
@SuzukaYuiMoa: the red thumbs are gone and you still managed to collect more red than green, stupid comment. RIP young woman, condolences to her family.
@SuzukaYuiMoa: disgusting comment which I have requested to be removed. I hope you get what you deserve.
RIP
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