Teen drowned after switching swim spot

A YOUNG man drowned after he switched from his regular bathing place because the water was “too shallow,” an inquest has heard.

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Dublin District Coroner Court heard the body of Luke McAuliffe, 19, was removed from the water by a Coast Guard team off Balbriggan, north Co Dublin, on April 30, 2024.

The deceased's father, Alan McAuliffe, contacted gardai after becoming concerned when his son had not caught a train after arranging to collect him from Dundalk railway station.

Mr McAuliffe said he originally thought his son, of Gyles Quay, Dundalk, Co Louth, had missed his train or fallen asleep on it when he did not arrive on the scheduled service.

Mr McAuliffe contacted gardai in Balbriggan after he was able to trace his son's location to the town from his Snapchat account.

He told the inquest gardai informed him that a body matching his son’s description had been found near a Martello tower off Balbriggan.