A man who died tragically following a jet-ski accident in Co Louth has been described as someone who “made everyone smile on their darkest day.”
Gary Clarke, 45, and a female friend got into difficulty while jet-skiing in Carlingford Lough on Monday evening at around 5pm. Early indications are that the jet ski appears to have overturned in the water.
They were both rescued by the Coast Guard and taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where Mr Clarke sadly passed away on Tuesday afternoon.
The woman remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital. Mr Clarke, from Warrenpoint, Co Down had been living in the village of Omeath, Co Louth for the past 20.
Mr Clarke - who is the dad of Mary-Kate, 18, and son of Marian and the late Patsy, and brother of Billy, Edel and Jane - has been described as someone who “made everyone smile on their darkest day.”
One heartbroken pal told the Irish Mirror: “He would do anything for anyone. Nothing was a problem for him.
"He made everyone smile on their darkest day. He would put a smile on your face. He would be in the local cafe six days a week, always smiling and was a real character. Everyone knew him. You would hear him before you’d see him.”
Another pal said: “The whole community is just in shock. We are all heartbroken. He lived here in Omeath for 20 years but was originally from Warrenpoint."
In tributes online, pals wrote of their heartbreak and shock of Mr Clarke’s tragic passing.
“Still can’t get my head around it,” one pal wrote. “You really were one of the best Gary. I’ll hold onto all our memories we made and all our wee coffee dates in Church Lane. Gonna miss you bud. Until we meet again.”
Another pal wrote: “Rest in peace Gary. May you get the best bed up there. You were the funniest and kindest person I know. You were always there for me growing up. Gonna miss you bud.”
In a post on Facebook, the management of Carlingford Marina said they are “devastated to hear of the passing of a man from Omeath who was involved in a jet-ski accident on the Lough on Monday evening.”
“We got reports at about 5pm on Monday that a jet-ski had overturned on the Lough and that a search was underway for the two persons that were onboard.
"We joined the search and made the Marina facility available to emergency services in any way that we could Kilkeel RNLI and Greenore Coast Guard were successful in locating the casualties and took them ashore here at the Marina where ambulances were waiting in our car park.
“The incident did not take place in the Marina but any time we hear of someone getting into trouble at sea - our members immediately adopt them as part of our maritime community, and try and help out in any way that we can.
“We are deeply saddened that this man didn't make it despite trojan efforts by Coast Guard and RNLI, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
“The second person who was on the jet-ski is still in a very serious condition, so please continue to pray that she makes a full recovery,” Carlingford Marina said in the post.
Mr Clarke’s remains will repose at his home until removal on Saturday arriving at St Peter’s Church, Warrenpoint for 1pm Requiem Mass followed by interment in Massford Cemetery in Kilkeel.
His family is requesting mourners make donations to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in lieu of flowers.
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