DIVERS FIND BODY OF MISSING IRISHMAN IN CANADA
Talented GAA player drowned in lake tragedy 10 months ago
THE body of a talented young GAA player who went missing in Canada last summer has been recovered by divers.
David Gavin vanished after he got into difficulty jumping from a bridge into the water at Kinbasket Lake Reservoir in British Columbia.
The popular 26 year-old, from Breaffy, Co Mayo, resurfaced briefly before disappearing and three of his friends raised the alarm.
David’s parents Michael and Angela and his girlfriend Ciara were at the scene when his body was found on Saturday evening close to where he entered the water on June 30.
A series of extensive searches were carried out last summer for David but they were stood down during the winter as rivers froze over. Searches resumed in recent days after water levels reduced and it is understood dive teams located his remains after a tracker dog was seen concentrating on a particular area.
Chairman of Breaffy GAA Gerry Bourke said: “It’s mixed emotions because there’s awful sadness for the family but relief his body has been got.
“We just wait now for him to be brought back to Ireland to Castlebar and Breaffy and that’s what we’re looking forward to now.
“The family will have a grave to go to, we’ll all have a grave to go to.
“At least the family have a body to bring home and hopefully it’ll bring closure and a bit of peace to their lives insofar as that’s possible.”
There were no plans confirmed yesterday for when David’s remains will be returned or when his funeral will be held. Before David emigrated he played football for Breaffy and was close friends with Mayo star Aidan O’shea since they attended school together.
The corner back, who travelled to Canada with his partner Ciara and friends in February last year, was part of the Mayo minor team which contested the 2009 All-ireland final and a former under-21 Mayo player.
Mr Bourke David playing for his club side Breaffy added: “At Sunday Mass in Breaffy the first thing [parish priest] Fr Conal Eustace said was, ‘We’re here to give thanks for the recovery of David’s body’.
“That kind of said it all. A lot of people in the congregation wouldn’t have known at that stage. There was a gasp in the church, a palpable sense of relief.” A fundraising page set up by family and friends to pay for search efforts raised €197,000 as donations came in from across Ireland and Canada.
Yesterday Breaffy GAA shared a tribute on its Facebook page, writing: “It is great relief and a lot of sadness that David Gavin’s remains have been recovered from Kinbasket Lake.
“David’s family and that of his girlfriend Ciara were present at the lake. They wish to thank everyone for their continued support.”
It’s mixed emotions, awful sadness for the family but relief GERRY BOURKE
BREAFFY GAA CLUB CHAIRMAN