This article is from page 20 of the 2007-10-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
A WOMAN has recalled heartbreak- ing pain, as she saw her husband’s body being swept out to sea, after he was struck by a wave, while fishing in Doonbeg.
Latvian native Olegs Artemjevs (27) drowned after he fell from a rock, while fishing at the Blue Pool, Doonbeg, on November 5 last year.
He had been fishing with his wife Lubova, when the tragedy occurred.
At Ennis Coroner’s Court last week, Lubova recalled travelling from Athlone to Doonbeg, early that morning.
The couple arrived in the west Clare area at 12 noon. The sea was normal and there was no wind.
“My husband started fishing from the rock,” she said, in her deposition to the Coroner’s Court.
“At about 2pm I was watching my husband and my phone rang. I turned around to get it. It was a call from my husband.
“I turned around to the sea again and I saw my husband being swept out to sea. I shouted for help. Two Polish men came,” recalled Lubova.
“I could see my husband. He was wearing chest waders when he went into the water.
I watched him being swept further and further out.
“We rang 999 and we were put on to Marine Rescue. Marine Rescue got to my husband in about five to 10 minutes,’ she said.
Garda Ken O’Day recalled attend- ing Kilkee Rescue Centre that day. He said Mr Artemjevs had sustained cuts to the nose and bruising to the panel
“When he was fishing, he was struck by a wave and pushed out into the sea,” said the garda.
Pathologist Dr Peter Fawl carried out a post mortem examination on the deceased’s body, on November
He concluded that death was due to asphyxia, secondary to drowning.
Coroner Isobel O’Dea said “one can only imagine the trauma” suf- fered by Mr Artemjevs’ wife, seeing him being pulled out to sea.
She suggested that the jury bring in a verdict of accidental death and the jury agreed with this.
“It should be acknowledged the tro- jan work being done by the Rescue Services,’ said the coroner.
“The Marine Rescue Services come out in all sorts of weather and provide a great service, as do the gardai,’ she added.