‘Excessive speed’ led to Ballina tragedy
‘The execution of unsafe manoeuvres at an excessive speed by an untrained driver” led to a jet ski death in Ballina in 2023.
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board published last week its report on the incident of May 31, when Wassiou Ayawe Moran (19) died after falling off a jet ski on the river.
Mr Moran, of Old Clare St in Limerick city – a soccer player with Limerick FC – had two female passengers with him on the jet ski, a Sea-Doo RXT X 300 personal watercraft (PWC).
He was unable to swim and had given one of the teenage girls his personal floatation device. He was performing “trick” manoeuvres on the river just south of the Ballina-Killaloe bridge.
“At approximately 17.00 hrs the Casualty advised the passengers to hold on as he was going to execute another ‘trick’,” the MCIB report stated.
“All three persons fell off the PWC again when it capsized during the sharp left turn. The two passengers managed to swim ashore to the pontoon where they were assisted out of the water with a second life jacket being thrown in and another swimmer coming out to assist. Neither had any significant injuries and were later given the all-clear after being checked by paramedics.
“The Casualty was initially observed by witnesses attempting to reach the PWC but disappeared under the water very quickly. He was not to be seen after the short time it took the passengers to be assisted ashore at the pontoon.”
RECOVERED BY DIVERS
The report noted that a search and recovery operation then commenced involving An Garda Síochána, Killaloe Coast Guard Unit, Shannon SAR rescue helicopter 115, Killaloe Fire and Rescue, Killaloe/Ballina SAR Unit, and Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club.
Mr Moran’s body was located by divers and was recovered at around 6.45pm.
“The marine casualty occurred because the operator was proceeding at an unsafe speed in excess of the local area bye-law speed limit of 5 km/h while conducting unsafe manoeuvres in an area unsuitable for such a powerful machine,” the MCIB found.
“The execution of unsafe manoeuvres at an excessive speed by an untrained driver resulted in a capsize of the PWC, which led to the Casualty being in the water, out of his depth and where he was unable to swim while not wearing a personal floatation device.
“It is possible that the presence of intoxicant in the system of the deceased may have impaired his judgement with regard to the operation of the PWC.”
JET SKI ACQUIRED DAYS PREVIOUSLY
“The Casualty was a young male who had only just acquired the PWC in the days before this fatal accident and with no evidence of having been given training before operating it on his own.
“The lack of the Casualty having any experience with operating such a powerful machine and not having the skills, knowledge, and experience that are obtained through training for a PWC was a contributory factor in this marine casualty,” the report stated.
The MCIB observed that there are no current legal requirements to register jet skis, although Waterways Ireland’s draft Shannon Navigation Bye-Laws provide for them to be registered.
The board made several safety recommendations in relation to various authorities, including calling for the mandatory registration of jet skis.
It noted that the Maritime Safety Act 2005 is the primary legislation for regulating and enforcing the safe operation of personal watercraft like jet skis but suggested there were few or no authorised officers with the required training to carry out arrests under the legislation.
An inquest into Mr Moran’s death was held at Clare Coroner’s Court in July 2024.
It recorded a verdict of death by misadventure due to the behaviour of the deceased while operating the jet ski.