A 13-year old girl suffered serious injuries when
her jet ski ploughed into rocks just yards from
toddlers playing on a beach in Inishowen.
The accident happened at Glenburney beach on the
shores of Lough Foyle near Moville as several jet
skiers used the small cove during Sunday's warm
sunshine.
The young teenager, from the Foyle Springs area of
Derry, sustained a broken leg and head injuries when
she lost control of the jet ski, hit rocks and was
thrown several metres into the air. Her head
injuries are not life-threatening, say local gardai.
Local resident Enda
Craig, who lives just yards from the beach, was at
the scene seconds after the accident occurred around
4.30pm. The girl was initially treated by staff from
the NowDoc out-of-hours GP service before being
taken by ambulance to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.
"This was an horrific accident but it could have
been much, much worse. I'm told the girl swerved the
jet ski to avoid crashing into toddlers on the
beach," said Mr Craig. "Her passenger, another young
girl, managed to throw herself into the water just
before the collision."
The horrific crash has added fuel to an ongoing
debate about the use of jet skis in the small 50m
wide cove.
Coincidentally, Mr Craig had earlier taken footage
of the jet skiers launching continually from the
crowded beach, to give to councillors for their next
local council meeting.
"We're not anti-jet
skiing, we just feel that it should be properly
regulated so that our beaches are safe for everyone
to use. They should not be allowed anywhere near the
shore or where people are swimming, in case someone
is decapitated," added Mr Craig. Donegal County
Council last year adopted bye-laws limiting, and in
some cases, banning the use of jet skis particularly
at blue flag beaches. The local authority said it
would work with leisure craft interest groups to
develop a code of practise for jet ski use at other
beaches around the coastline.
Labour councillor Martin Farren said he would raise
the issue at this Thursday’s local area meeting of
Donegal County Council.
"We wish this young girl a speedy recovery but we
have to think of the safety of the general public as
well. This accident could have been so much worse. I
will be proposing that the regulations pertaining to
jet skis at Donegal's blue flag beaches be extended
to all high-amenity beaches such as Glenburney as
well," said Cllr Farren. Gardai are also
investigating.
