Outpouring of sympathy after trawler tragedy

THE tragic death of a Portuguese crewman, who drowned last Thursday after he fell overboard from a Dingle trawler 200 miles off the Kerry coast, has sent shockwaves through the local fishing community.

A very experienced fisherman, Alberto Veirrero from outside the city of Porto in Portugal, only came to Dingle in April to join the crew of the Cú na Mara (pictured above) where his brother, Julio, has fished for several years under local skipper Michael Flannery.

The accident happened at about 2.30pm on Thursday when Mr Veirrero, who was working on the afterdeck, slipped and fell into the water. The crew, including Mr Veirrero’s brother, managed to get him back on board within minutes but even though he had been wearing a flotation device and safety helmet he was already unconscious.

The crew immediately administered CPR and, with directions from a doctor who was contacted via Valentia Radio Station, continued their efforts to resuscitate Mr Veirrero. Tragically, he failed to respond.

A rescue helicopter was tasked from Cork to attend the scene, but as it would have taken well over an hour to fly to where the Cú na Mara was fishing on the Porcupine Bank, the mission was stood down and the trawler headed for port in Dingle with Mr Veirrero’s body on board. The trawler arrived at 11am on Friday in Dingle where she was met by local gardaí and harbour personnel, Dr Margo O’Shea, and Parish Priest Fr Seosamh Ó Beaglaoich who offered prayers on the pier.

Mr Veirrero’s body was removed to Kerry University Hospital in Tralee for a post mortem examination and the body was expected to be repatriated to Portugal today (Wednesday).

On Friday and Saturday a wake was held for Mr Veirrero in the home of his skipper, Michael Flannery, a very well known and respected local fisherman who has been at sea for some 40 years. There were prayers for Mr Vierrero at a funeral Mass in Dingle on Sunday, and a message of sympathy from the people of Dingle to his family was read in Portuguese and was greatly appreciated by his brother, Julio, who attended the ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of the Flannery family and the crew of the Cú na Mara, Lorcán Ó Cinnéide said they were very grateful to the gardaí, port authorities, Fr Begley and the local community for “the very sympathetic way in which they handled a terribly difficult and traumatic situation.”