Man drowns in vain bid to save boy swimmer, 15

A MAN has drowned in a failed bid to rescue a teenage boy from a disused quarry.

Colin Polland is understood to have jumped into the water at the isolated quarry in Co Down, Norther Ireland to save 15-year-old Kevin O’Hare, who had got into difficulties while swimming there, but both died.

Kevin was from the Dromara area of Co Down. Mr Polland was originally from Northern Ireland but had been living in England. It is understood he was back in the region on holiday.

The incident at Paul’s Quarry on the outskirts of the seaside village of Annalong happened late on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency crews, including police divers, were involved in an evening-long operation to recover the bodies from the former granite quarry.

The tragedy is believed to have unfolded when Kevin got into trouble while swimming in the deep waters of the steep-sided quarry and a friend ran to raise the alarm.

Mr Polland responded and jumped in, in an attempt to 
rescue him.

Police said post mortem examinations would be carried out in due course.

A series of tragedies in the area in recent years include the deaths of three men in a light aircraft crash four years ago and the loss of three family members when a fishing boat sank in 2002.