I felt that something just might go wrong
Survivor of cage drowning relives tragic accident
A MAN who miraculously survived a f reak double drowning tragedy on the River Shannon last month has revealed he had a premonition something would go wrong.
Paul Murphy, who cannot swim, was one of three workmen strapped into a cage-type structure which was suspended by a cable from a crane over the river in Limerick city.
The overhead cable snapped sending all three, who had been carrying out structural repair work on Thomond Bridge, into the water.
Father-of-two TJ O’ Herilhy from Castleisland, Co. Kerry, and Bryan Whelan, 29, from Bridgetown, Co. Clare, died in the incident on Saturday, August 29, after they became trapped inside the cage underwater.
Mr Murphy, originally from Wexford, but living in Askeaton, Co. Limerick, managed to unhook himself from his harness that was attached to the cage before he floated to the surface thanks to his life jacket.
Mr O’Herlihy and Mr Whelan were unable to unhook their harnesses and their bodies were found two feet below the surface still in the cage.
Speaking yesterday on local radio station, Limerick’s Live 95FM, Mr Murphy recalled the tragedy, remarking that he was always aware of the possibility of something going wrong. He said: ‘I can’t swim at all, so all week when I was i n the basket, I was studying myself, “what if... for some reason, I don’t know why... if anything did ever happen...”.
‘In work we do our own safety plan... but for some reason, in the back of my head, all week, I was just thinking, and I would say to myself, if something does happen, I have to get out of the water.’
‘I knew, if anything did happen I would have to get my harness off. That was in my head all week,’ he added. ‘ So when I did hear the bang, I knew I had to get air, and get the harness off.’
He continued: ‘I f elt calm, because, once water went into my mouth, I said to myself I only have one chance to get this off. My mouth was full of water at this stage so I knew I had to get the harness off. I don’t think I panicked until I hit the surface and tried to swim.’ The father of one, who is expecting his second child in November, added: ‘I can’t remember seeing the harness. People were asking me could I see the boys beside me. I couldn’t.’
Mr Murphy paid tribute to his colleagues who lost their lives, and t he emergency services who responded to the incident.
He also praised the 600 people who turned out at Thomond Bridge last Saturday for a candle-lit vigil in memory of his late workmates.
And he thanked a teenager who ran along the river bank, threw him a life ring and shouting safety instructions.
‘I’d like to thank that young boy,’ Mr Murphy said. ‘That [memory] jumps out at me, that kindness of that young fella, he didn’t know who I was, I could have been anybody, the kindness of him trying to save my life, even though I was okay. Thank you very much whoever your are.’
Tributes poured in for victims Bryan Whelan and TJ O’Herlihy in the aftermath of the tragic accident. Mr Whelan’s sister-in-law, Maura Whelan, said he was a ‘true gentleman’. ‘We are just heartbroken by the tragic loss of Bryan. He was a fantastic son, brother, uncle,’ Ms Whelan said. ‘He was a true gentleman, who would drop everything at a moment’s notice, should you need him,’ she said.
Castleisland councillor Bobby O’Connell said at the time that the Kerry town was in shock, remarking: ‘We all saw it on the television, not knowing a member of our own community was involved. It’s gone from sad to horrific here in Castleisland.’
Mr O’Herlihy’s father, Timothy, is a well-known member of the Munster Rugby Junior Committee and a delegate with the All-Ireland Junior Committee, who co-runs a panel beating garage in Castleisland.
Both Mr O’Herlihy and Mr Whelan were laid to rest in their native counties last week.
‘He was a true gentleman’