Woman, 60s, dies after getting into difficulty swimming at Wexford beach

A WOMAN has died after getting into difficulty while swimming at a Wexford beach.

The woman, in her 60s, was taken from the water at Ballymoney Strand after 8pm yesterday.

Emergency services raced to the scene to treat the woman, but she was sadly pronounced dead.

Gardai confirmed the tragic death and said a post-mortem is to be carried out at University Hospital Waterford.

A garda spokesman: "Gardai and emergency services responded to an incident at Ballymoney strand, Co Wexford shortly after 8pm on Tuesday July 4, 2023.

"A woman in her 60s was taken from the water and treated at the scene by emergency services personnel but was pronounced dead a short time later.

"The deceased was removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem examination will be carried out. A file will be prepared for the Coroner."

Meanwhile, tributes have been paid to a dad-of-three who died following an accident on rocks underneath the cliffs on Cape Clear island.

David Latten's grieving family has asked that donations in his memory be made to Baltimore RNLI. 

Mr Latten was on holidays with his family at a campsite on Cape Clear when the accident occurred at about 6pm on July 1.

The 44-year-old, who worked as Head of Indirect Procurement at Logitech, was playing football on a green arena with one of his children when the ball went over the cliff and on to rocks beneath near the shore line.

He took a detour along the coastline to get the ball but failed to return.

The alarm was raised and a search operation commenced involving the Irish Coastguard helicopter Rescue 115 and Baltimore RNLI.

The family of Mr Latten, who was the son-in-law of retired Fine Gael TD and Minister Jim O’Keeffe expressed their "immense gratitude" to Baltimore Lifeboat, Irish Coast Guard, An Garda Síochána and the communities of Cape Clear and Baltimore.

In his death notice, he is described as a "loved husband" and "devoted father".

He is survived by his wife Neasa O’Keeffe, their children Ruadhán, Odhran and Finn, his parents Ann and Andrew and their loved ones, brother Richard, extended family and friends.

Mr Lattenwill lie in repose at O’Sullivan’s Funeral Home, Clonakilty on Friday from 4pm to 6pm before a private cremation will take place.

And Cork has been struck by another tragedy after a body was found on rocks beneath the cliffs of the Old Head of Kinsale last night.

The body was recovered by Kinsale RNLI and efforts are currently underway to try and identify the remains.

The body was taken to Cork University Hospital morgue where a  postmortem examination will be carried out to establish cause of death.