Associated Press | The Fermanagh Herald

A Coroner at the inquest into the deaths of two experienced boatsmen on Lough Erne last August has highlighted the need for those taking to the water, for any reason, to wear a lifejacket.

At the inquest into the deaths of friends Declan Swift, who was forty-seven, from Enniskillen and Martin Steele, forty-eight, from Belcoo, Coroner Brian Sherrard described this as a 'tragic accident' in which both men died by drowning after they were thrown out of Mr. Swift's boat.

"This was a tragic and unforeseen accident which led to the tragic deaths of these two men" he said.

Describing the two life-long friends as 'safety conscious' he said this event highlights "the need, when we take to the water, to wear lifejackets even if it's for the shortest trip or on the calmest waters."

At the conclusion of the inquest Mr. Sherrard found that at approximately 10am on Saturday, 4th April, Mr. Swift and Mr. Steele took to Lough Erne from Riverside, Enniskillen in Mr. Swift's new fishing boat, which was in perfect working order but which was more powerful than previous boats Mr. Swift had owned.

Close to marker 49A on Lough Erne, as the men were heading away from Enniskillen in this boat, the craft was seen to turn right before coping to the left which, in turn, emptied the boat's contents, including the two men, into the water.

Two witnesses in a nearby cruiser called the coast guard and went to see if they could help but as they approached one of the men disappeared below the surface. The second man was still at the surface as they drew close but he was unresponsive towards the couple and disappeared from view a short time later.

A major search operation - one of the biggest ever seen on Lough Erne - was mounted and the following day divers recovered the bodies of the two men a short distance from where they were last seen. A post-mortem revealed both men died from freshwater drowning.

An investigation found the boat had been traveling at almost full speed with the steering damper off, which would mean if someone let go of the tiller the boat would have turned sharply right.

Alan Bell gave evidence that at about 11.30am on Saturday 4th August he and his wife Wendy were traveling towards Enniskillen after leaving Ely Lodge on their cabin cruiser when Mr. Bell noticed a small boat - about three quarters of a mile away - traveling towards them.

Mr. Bell said that he observed the boat suddenly turn right and the contents of the boat, including what he believed were two people, went into the water.

Mr. Bell sped up and as they approached the boat Mr. Steele disappeared below the surface. Despite attempts to help Mr. Swift he didn't respond and he went under the water. The couple observed he wasn't wearing a lifejacket.

When Mr. Swift's body was recovered the engine's kill cord was attached to his waist.

Marion Swift gave evidence about identifying the body of her husband, Mr. Swift, at Enniskillen Police Station on Sunday 5th August.

She explained her husband was a self-employed electrician and that they lived at Derrin Road, Cornagrade in Enniskillen.

According to his wife Mr. Swift loved the lake - he grew up on it - loved boating and had a lot of experience on the water.

The day he died Mr. Swift had intended to get his new boat, a green Quicksilver 30hp (which he purchased a few months earlier) registered. Mrs. Swift didn't think it was his intention to go out on the boat that day. He was described as 'very safety conscious, very careful' and Mrs. Swift said he wouldn't have generally gone out on the boat with Mr. Steele.

Fredrick Steele, Martin Steele's brother, said his brother - known as Marty - lived with his partner Rita at Cornagee, Mullaghdun, Belcoo and that he also had a boat, which would have been moored alongside Mr. Swift's, at Riverside.

Mr. Steele was a keen fisherman, and extremely safety conscious, and his brother believes going out on the lake would have been an 'impromptu' decision.