THE death of a search and rescue volunteer in Kilkee, Co Clare this Monday has shaken a community and indeed the country as the heroics of Caitriona Lucas and her fellow volunteers members comes to light as her family mourns her loss.
A mother of two, Ms Lucas (41) from Ballyvaughan was one of three members onboard a Doolin Coast Guard boat involved in a search for a man missing in the area for a number of days.
A tragic reversal of roles unfolded for Caitriona and her co-volunteers Jenny Carway (51) and James Lucey (49) when their Delta RIB flipped over during a search at Kilkee Bay.
The trio were thrown from their boat into the pounding seas before Caitriona lost her life and Jenny and James became the focus of a dramatic rescue bid.
Both Jenny and James are now recovering in hospital but efforts to revive Caitriona failed after she was plucked from the sea by rescuers onboard the Shannon based Rescue 115 helicopter.
RNLI crews from Ballybunion, Aran and Kilrush were also at the scene as their attention turned to their colleagues in peril.
Upwards of 400 people had been involved in an initial shoreline search on Sunday for the missing man before it was stood down due to weather conditions.
Volunteers, including the water based search units from the RNLI and the Kilkee and Doolin Coast Guard units returned on Monday to continue their search before tragedy struck for one of their members.
As many onlookers, villagers and friends were left shaken by the tragedy, a statement from The Irish Coast Guard read that it extended “sincere condolences to the Lucas family and all the volunteer members of the Doolin and Kilkee units. The Coast Guard also wishes to thank all the other organisations that participated in today’s search.”
In many tributes paid to the mother of two whose husband Bernard is also a member of the Doolin volunteer unit, Caitriona was described “as a brave and valiant woman”.
Limerick Marine Search and Rescue, together with Limerick Fire and Rescue Service and the many other volunteer search and organisations have changed their online social media pictures to display a Irish Coast Guard logo with a black stripe through it, in memory and honour of Caitriona.
Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam uasal.
