Family of teenage drowning victim support local RNLI

Family of teenage drowning victim support local RNLI

31 July 2013

THE family of a teenager who drowned in a disused quarry in the Mournes last month has raised almost £2,000 for the RNLI.

Kevin O’Hare (15), drowned along with 39 year-old Colin Polland who had jumped into the quarry on June 1 in a bid to rescue the teenager who got into difficulty.

The double tragedy at the quarry between Newcastle and Annalong stunned the Mournes community and people in Dromara where Kevin lived.

Last Friday, Kevin’s parents Donna and Eugene met RNLI representatives in Newcastle to present them with a cheque. The money was raised via a Gaelic football match at Dromara GAC where Kevin was an Under-16 player.

Eugene O’Hare said he hopes the money would help prevent similar drowning tragedies.

He explained: “The idea was to put money back into local rescue services. If it saves one life it is well worth it.

“We thought if the money goes to saving one other family and it stops one other family going through the grief we are going through now — that’s the reason we decided to do it.”

The charity GAA match against Drumaness was was held just week’s after Kevin’s death and included two of his three brothers. Two of Kevin’s cousins, Michael and Shane Savage, lined out for Drumaness.

Eugene O’Hare (23), wore Kevin’s boots in tribute to this younger brother in the match, which took place before he returned to Australia where he now lives.

“My son was going away to Australia and he wanted to get involved in playing in it,” said Mr. O’Hare.

Also playing was Liam O’Hare (17) who was with Kevin when he got into difficulty while swimming at the disused quarry.

Kevin, who was the youngest of four boys, was enjoying a sunny Saturday with his brother and cousin almost exactly two months ago when the tragedy happened.

Mr. Polland, who was originally from Newcastle but lived in London, made the rescue bid after Kevin’s relatives ran for help.

Emergency crews, including police divers, were involved in an evening-long recovery operation at the former granite quarry.