Investigations underway as man dies after car enters the sea in West of Ireland town
People reportedly jumped into the water in an effort to save driver after the car went into the water at Newport Quay in Mayo
Gardai in Mayo are investigating the death of a man in Newport after a vehicle entered the sea in the west Mayo town on Saturday afternoon.
The tragedy occurred at approximately 5.30pm when emergency services received a report of a vehicle entering the water at the Point area of Newport Quay.
According to the Mayo News, A number of people were in the area at the time and witnessed the car entering the water and some jumped into the water to try to assist the male driver but were unable to do so.
Members of the Westport Coast Guard unit as well as An Garda Siochána, fire service and the Irish Coast Guard emergency helicopter attended the location and local divers later retrieved the body of a male from the vehicle. Emergency services confirmed there were no other people in the car when it entered the water.
It is understood that the deceased male aged in his 60s lived in the Newport area. His body was transferred to Mayo University Hospital where a post mortem is due to take place to determine the cause of death.
The car was taken from the water shortly after 8pm and the area has been sealed off pending a garda forensic examination of the area.
A garda investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened and any witnesses are asked to contact Westport garda station.