A Ghanaian fisherman, Moses Odonkor, who was tragically killed in a freak accident off the Cork coast earlier this week, will soon be repatriated to Ghana.
The 53-year-old, who had been living in Ireland for over 20 years, suffered fatal injuries on Monday while working on a trawler near the Porcupine Bank close to the Blasket Islands.
Odonkor’s crewmates tried in vain to assist him, but he was pronounced dead before emergency services could reach the scene. The trawler promptly returned to Castletownbere following the incident.
Originally from Ghana, Moses had most recently been residing in Skibbereen, Ireland. He is survived by his wife, Philomena, and their two sons, Isaac and Emmanuel. Tragically, their youngest son, Joshua, passed away in 2023 after choking on a grape.
A prayer service for Moses was held today at Hurley & O’Sullivan’s Funeral Home in Skibbereen, just before 3 p.m.
According to a notice on RIP.ie, Moses will be repatriated to Ghana “at a later date.”
It is believed that Odonkor sustained his critical injuries while heavy fishing nets were being deployed into the waters. He became unresponsive immediately after the incident, and despite efforts by his fellow crew members, he could not be revived.
The tragic accident occurred within Irish territorial waters. A Garda (Irish police) spokesperson confirmed the incident is being treated as a workplace accident.
The Coast Guard first alerted Gardaí about the accident after receiving direct communication from the trawler.
“The Marine Casualty Investigation Unit, Marine Survey Office, Health and Safety Authority, and the local coroner have all been informed,” the Garda spokesperson added.
Niall Duffy, chairman of the Lost At Sea charity, expressed deep shock over the incident.
“On behalf of the fishing community, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to Moses’ family and crewmates. He was a highly respected and well-liked member of the team, and his loss is felt profoundly across the entire community,” Duffy stated.
The Lost At Sea charity offers support to those affected by maritime tragedies.
SOURCE: www.sundayworld.com
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