Northern Ireland

Community midwife Deirdre Mc Shane, who drowned at Ballycastle `was cautious swimmer'

Deirdre McShane
Deirdre McShane Deirdre McShane

A COMMUNITY midwife who drowned during her regular morning dip at a Co Antrim beauty spot was always a "careful and cautious swimmer".

Deirdre McShane (58) from Ballintoy, had joined friends at Ballycastle beach shortly after 8am yesterday, but only two of them ventured into the cold waves.

After it became clear that both were in difficulties, the emergency services were called and a dog walker helped to pull them to shore.

Coastguard and firefighters assisted with resuscitation efforts and first aid and the surviving swimmer was taken to Causeway Hospital where she was later said to be stable and had been able to send messages to friends from her bed.

In a message posted on social media last night Ms McShane's daughter, Roisin, said her mother's swimming group have organised a prayer service to take place this morning led by a fellow swimmer and minister.

"Mammy swam every morning on 'Carey' beach. She had arranged to meet one of her many friends tomorrow at 7.30am for a swim before work," she wrote.

She said the service would take place at Ballycastle Strand at 7.30am today "just as mammy had arranged". 

Passer-by Aine Paterson was walking a dog along the beach when she spotted the swimmers in trouble.

She described how she saw "what I thought was a big driftwood being washed into the shore and as I got closer I thought it was maybe a seal".

"And then I realised it was a person as I got closer and she was trying to get out of the water," she told BBC NI.

Ms Paterson ran into the water to help and described how waves came over their heads as she helped the first woman to safety.

"I just dragged her out of the water and she kept... her legs failed and she kept passing out."

Deirdre McShane died after getting into difficulties while swimming at Ballycastle beach, Co Antrim.
Deirdre McShane died after getting into difficulties while swimming at Ballycastle beach, Co Antrim. Deirdre McShane died after getting into difficulties while swimming at Ballycastle beach, Co Antrim.

The exhausted woman eventually managed to say her friend's name, at which point Ms Paterson realised there was a second person in the sea.

"When I realised her friend was still in the water I went into the water and there was just… she was gone at that point, I knew.

"I knew I just wanted to get her body out of the sea."

There were reports of high waves, but Chris Adair, senior maritime operations officer with the Coastguard, said the sea conditions were "quiet" and not unusual for the time of year.

Yesterday afternoon, after the vehicles left the beach front, a group of the women's friends gathered to sit silently at the now deserted shoreline.

Sinn Féin councillor Cara McShane, a cousin of the mother-of-two, said she had been a frequent swimmer.

"Deirdre would have been one of the more cautious swimmers, she wouldn't have been taking risks at all. People are so shocked trying to get their heads around it.

"We wonder if maybe there was a rip tide, but we just don't know. She loved swimming in the sea and would always have talked about how much it helped her.

"She was such a positive person and definitely had a zest for life and she won't want a lot of negative things around what has happened.

"The community will support her family, her son and daughter. They're both in their twenties and her daughter still lives at home."

A woman has died in a swimming accident at Ballycastle beach, Co Antrim.
A woman has died in a swimming accident at Ballycastle beach, Co Antrim. A woman has died in a swimming accident at Ballycastle beach, Co Antrim.

Ms McShane, who was a traditional music enthusiast, had begun to learn Irish around two years ago.

"She was very pro-active, very fresh and into health and well being. Just a pillar of strength to other people," the councillor said.

The Northern Trust said Ms McShane had a "caring and compassionate manner which made a great difference to all the women and families she cared for."

The trust said her colleagues in Ballycastle and Ballymoney would miss her "incredibly".

In a statement, the trust added: "We extend our most sincere and heartfelt sympathies to her partner, her two beloved children and the wider family circle."

Open swimming is increasingly popular in the sea, loughs and outdoor pools.

Ballycastle beach, which is five minutes from the town centre and backs on to a golf course, has been singled out as one of the top five spots for the pastime in Ireland and different groups meet there most mornings, some as early as 7.15am.

There are no restrictions on swimming at the beach and no lifeguards present at anytime.