Marine body gives safety recommendations following death of man on jet ski in Clare

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board have published a report investigating the lead up and causes of the death of a young man on a jet ski in Clare. 

19 year old Wassiou Ayawe’s death on the water in May 2023 was attributed to a number of issues, including: “Operating a high powered PWC [personal watercraft] at excess speed and at a speed in excess of the local speed limit while conducting various manoeuvres, a fall overboard into cold water, inability to swim, lack of training in the operation of a high powered PWC, Not wearing a suitable PFD [personal floatation device]”, and “Failure to follow the local area bye-laws relating to vessel speed.” 

The League of Ireland player was pronounced dead on the scene when his body was retrieved from the Kilaloe-Ballina lake.

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The report recommended that: “Due to the escalating incidence of jet ski accidents, it is recommended that the Department of Transport explore the feasibility of mandatory training for recreational craft users.”

The Department of Transport responded within the report that they did not wish to uphold this recommendation. 

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board further recommended that Gardaí should: “make available details of their authorised officers and of enforcement action, including any authorised to carry out arrests, and consider how making available that information might assist better regulation and enforcement.”