Tributes paid to swim club founder who died at lake
TRIBUTES have been paid to a father of two who died on Sunday while swimming in Cork.
Declan Newman, aged in his 50s, was well known in Skibbereen for founding the Lough Hyne Lappers over 15 years ago. The swimming club now has over 150 members.
At around 12.30 pm on Sunday – and only moments after the ‘adoring father’ was heard singing – Mr Newman suffered a suspected cardiac arrest in the water near the last pier in Lough Hyne.
He was spotted by fellow swimmers who raced to help him when they realised he was in trouble.
The air ambulance, firefighters, and gardaí were at the scene and CPR was carried out but a short time later, at 12.45 pm, he was pronounced dead. It’s understood Mr Newman had raised funds for a defibrillator at Lough Hyne and it was used by club members in an attempt to resuscitate him.
His son Cillian, who is in his mid20s, was swimming with the club at the time. He is also survived by his daughter, Laoise, also in her 20s.
Chris Keating, a friend of Declan’s, said he was blessed to know him.
‘Our big, beautiful bear of a friend was taken suddenly from us on Sunday morning,’ he wrote on social media. ‘He was solid, dependable and so, so much fun. A huge, gregarious beast of a man who welcomed you with a beaming face and enveloped you in his arms and you savoured every second you spent in his company. The collective heart of the gang is broken tonight.’
Mr Newman’s beloved club also paid tribute to its founder. ‘Yesterday we sadly lost a fabulous friend who has supported our swim for many years and organised the Lough Hyne Lappers in great numbers to participate and have the craic.’
Union Hall RNLI said it was shocked to hear of the tragedy.