Water sport enthusiasts in the North West are being warned to be vigilant when taking part in such activities this Bank Holiday weekend.
The St Patrick’s Day celebrations traditionally mark the start of the tourism season and it’s expected that many visitors and those living locally will take to the water over the next number of days.
The Irish Coast Guard, Irish Water Safety and the RNLI say sixty seven per cent of accidental drownings were preceded by land based activities.
People are being advised to check weather conditions, and to tell someone where they are going before heading out.
Head of Operations at the Irish Coastguard Kevin Whitney, says it's important to have an effective way to raise the alarm if anyone gets into difficulty:
