TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to a teenage boy who tragically lost his life in a cliff fall in County Kerry.
The boy, who has been named locally as 17-year-old James Harrison, was on a walk with his parents and siblings along the cliffs of Bull Head near Dingle yesterday afternoon, 3 January.
It is understood that James slipped and fell from the cliff, plummeting around 30 feet into the water below.
The emergency services were called, and Gardaí, along with the Coast Guard, RNLI and Dingle Search and Rescue sped to the scene to try and rescue the teenager.
Tragically, when James was recovered from the water he was pronounced dead by paramedics, and his body was taken to the Morgue at Kerry University Hospital.
James, an avid sportsman, lived in County Galway, and his local team Knocknacarra Soccer yesterday paid tribute to the teenager, writing:
"Knocknacarra Football Club are devastated to hear of the untimely passing of one of our boys, James Harrison, in an accident in Kerry today.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Maura, Matthew, Daniel and Aoife. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis."
Knocknacarra Football Club are devastated to hear of the untimely passing of one of our boys, James Harrison, in an...
Posted by Knocknacarra Soccer on Sunday, 3 January 2021
Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club, for which he also played, shared an image of James holding a winner's cup and wrote that everyone in the club is "deeply saddened by the news from Kerry today of the loss of our minor football star, James Harrison.
"Our condolences are with Maura,Matthew, Daniel, Aoife, the extended family and all of James' friends at this difficult time."
An Garda Síochána confirmed they have launched an investigation into the incident but believe his death to be a tragic accident.
In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí and emergency services received reports of a male youth , 17 years, entering the sea after a fall in the Bull Head area of Lispole, Co. Kerry, on the early afternoon of 03/01/[2021].
"Following a search and rescue operation by Gardaí assisted by members of the Coast Guard, RNLI and Dingle Search and Rescue, the body of the male youth was recovered. He was later pronounced dead and has since been removed to the Morgue at Kerry University Hospital.
"Investigations are ongoing."
