Girl (12) who drowned in Co Tipperary named locally
A prayer service is to be held for a 12-year-old girl who died after getting into swimming difficulties in Co Tipperary on Friday afternoon.
The girl, who has been named locally as Freya Tobin, got into swimming difficulties at a local swimming spot around 4.20pm in the village of Newcastle, which is located close to the village of Ardfinnan along the Tipperary/Waterford border.
The swimming spot is along the Suir Blueway, and the former sixth class student at the local Social Mhuire Caisleán Nua National School had been swimming with a number of others when she got into difficulty.
It is understood that Freya, who died, along with another friend, both got into difficulty swimming around the same time. Sarah's friend managed to swim to safety and raise the alarm. A number of local boys heard the screams of the girls and dived into the water to help. The spot where the girls were swimming is known to have strong currents.
In a multi-agency response, Gardaí, National Ambulance Service personnel and firefighters from Clonmel Fire Station's swift water rescue team attended the scene.
Freya was transferred to Cork University Hospital (CUH) by the Irish Coast Guard Air and Sea Rescue 117 helicopter after being recovered from the water at around 4.45pm.
In a statement, gardaí said that they and emergency services attended an incident where “a female child got into difficulty in the water at River Suir, Newcastle, Co Tipperary at approximately 4:20pm today.”
The statement continued: “She was airlifted by Rescue 117 to Cork University Hospital in a serious condition. She has since passed away”.
A file will be prepared for the Coroner’s Court.
The deceased girl’s friend, who managed to swim to safety, was taken to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel for treatment.
Fr Michael Toomey, Parish Priest Administrator for the parish of Ardfinnan, Ballybacon, Fourmilewater, Grange and Newcastle, said of the tragedy that “sometimes no words seem adequate when a tragedy like what happened in our parish in Newcastle today occurs.”
In a statement, Fr Toomey explained that “no words" can give comfort at this time and that his thoughts and prayers are with the girl’s family, who have “suffered a terrible loss in this awful tragedy”.
He noted: “Speaking with them this (Friday) evening, I know they are so grateful to all of the emergency services and to everyone who helped them in any way.”
The prayer service will be held at midday on Saturday in Our Lady of the Assumption in Newcastle for all of her friends, family, the entire village and the surrounding areas.
Fr Toomey continued: “As we all come together to support one another in our grief and to offer prayers for her family, please, look out for one another in these days, and don’t be afraid to look for help and support in the coming days. May she rest in peace.”
Scoil Mhuire Caisleán Nua has organised support for all students and parents on Saturday and in the coming days.
The local girl was only two weeks into her summer holidays.
Independent TD Mattie McGrath, who is from the local area, said that “everyone in the village is numb after what has happened. It’s a very close-knit community. Our thoughts are with the young girl’s family, her mother and younger brother, whom I know well.”
Mr McGrath thanked all the emergency services and “so many locals who did their best” to help save Freya and who are now “rallying around her family.”
In a poignant message on the school’s official Facebook page just over two weeks ago, school management wished their sixth class students the best for the future.
They said: “This week we say goodbye to our wonderful 6th Class as they finish their time at Scoil Mhuire Caisleán Nua after eight great years. We celebrated their journey with a lovely graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening, filled with memories, laughter and a few tears. They have been a fantastic group and will be greatly missed by everyone in the school.
“We wish each of them the very best in their new schools and every success in the years ahead. Best of luck, 6th Class — the future is bright!”
As a mark of respect, the Newcastle Family Fun day and Duck race, scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday, have been cancelled.
