Ballyshannon student's death on kayak trip in 2019 was not properly assessed for risks

A Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) investigation into the death of a  21-year-old Ballyshannon student, Aisling O’Connor during a kayaking trip on a County Kerry river on November 2, 2019 has found that the river was not properly assessed or suitable for all participants. 

On that date, a group of 27 kayakers set out on a down-river trip of the Upper Caragh River, Co. Kerry. 

The kayakers consisted of experienced and beginner kayakers, split into three sub-groups. The first sub-group (sub-group 1) successfully navigated the river-run. The second and third sub-groups experienced difficulties. 

Two kayakers became distressed, and the emergency services were called. One kayaker was resuscitated but a second kayaker, who was trapped under a tree branch, was rendered unconscious and stopped breathing. 

Ms O’Connor, a biochemistry student at UL (University of Limerick), was recovered from the water, resuscitated and transferred to hospital but subsequently died two days later from her injuries.

A second male student kayaker also became unconscious, which required medical resuscitation and hospitalisation. The MCIB described it as “a near fatality”.

In its conclusions the board said that the prevailing conditions including the features of the river were not suitable for all the members of the trip to manage safely. 

The trip was not properly assessed for the risks attached to the prevailing conditions and having regard to the skills and experience of the group taking part in what is a high-risk sport. 

The persons in charge of identifying and assessing the risks in advance, and on the day, were insufficiently trained and experienced themselves to be able to assess the risks given the combined factors of river conditions and the nature of the group.

This arose as there was a lack of adherence to the ULKC (University of Limerick Kayak Club) Safety Statement 2014 and the Trips Policy and Procedure which set out control measures, which led to a lack of accredited training, which in turn led to poor decision making, the report said. 

It also noted that the Upper Caragh River was a Grade 4 river on the day and a Grade 3 with parts at Grade 4 normally. 

The river trip planners and Leaders did not correctly gauge the river as a Grade 4 river despite the elevated river levels. Incorrectly gauging the grade of the Upper Caragh River and underestimating the river conditions experienced by the beginner/novice kayakers, particularly after heavy rainfall had swollen the river, were causative factors in the number of serious capsize incidents, the report continued.

It also noted that the ULKC Leaders’ previous experience of the River Upper Caragh was gained at a time when the river was not in flood. 

The MCIB said that the the recent heavy rains in the locality at the time resulted in the river level being higher, current flows being considerably faster and more powerful to the degree that the intermediate paddlers had difficulties in controlling their boats. 

The deceased and the other casualty were intermediates at Level 2 and Level 3 Skills competency.

The report also noted that the position of University of Limerick is that it is not the relevant body for the purposes of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board investigation or to whom recommendations in respect of oversight, auditing or governance of the activities of the University of Limerick should be addressed. 

It had however acknowledged that it will engage with the University of Limerick Students’ Union about how the University of Limerick can better support the University of Limerick Students’ Union in dealing with the Report’s conclusions and in addressing the Marine Casualty Investigation Board’s final recommendations.

The full report which is 202 pages also said that Canoeing Ireland should engage with University of Limerick Kayak Club in relation to the proper adherence by University of Limerick Kayak Club in relation to the terms of their affiliation and should terminate that affiliation if there is not sufficient compliance with the safety standards set by Canoeing Ireland.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) examines and investigates all types of marine casualties to, or onboard, Irish registered vessels worldwide and other vessels in Irish territorial waters and inland waterways.

The MCIB objective in investigating a marine casualty is to determine its circumstances and its causes with a view to making recommendations to the Minister of Transport - for the avoidance of similar marine casualties in the future, thereby improving the safety of life at sea and inland waterway.

The MCIB made a number of safety recommendations to the club, UL students’ union and UL including a review by UL’s Kayak Club of its procedures for assessments of planned trips and that it suspend further activities until its safety regime was audited.