A community in Tipperary is in deep mourning and feels “numb” following the tragic drowning of 12-year-old Freya Tobin on Friday.
Freya has been identified locally as the young girl who lost her life.
The recent sixth-class graduate of Scoil Mhuire Caisleán Nua National School was swimming with companions when she encountered difficulties at approximately 4:20 pm.
One of her friends managed to swim to safety and alert others.
Hearing the girls’ cries for help, several local boys bravely entered the water to assist. The swimming area is known for its strong currents.
Emergency services, including gardaí, the National Ambulance Service, and the Clonmel Fire Station’s water rescue team, swiftly responded to the scene.
Freya was rescued from the water around 4:45 pm and transported by the Irish Coast Guard Air and Sea Rescue 117 helicopter to Cork University Hospital (CUH).
Gardaí issued a statement confirming that they and emergency services attended an incident at the River Suir in Newcastle, Co. Tipperary, where “a female child got into difficulty in the water at approximately 4:20 pm today.”
The statement further stated: “She was airlifted by Rescue 117 to Cork University Hospital in a serious condition. She has since passed away.”
A file is being prepared for the Coroner’s Court.
Freya’s friend, who successfully swam to safety, was taken to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel for treatment.
Parish priest Fr. Michael Toomey expressed the community’s grief, saying, “Sometimes no words seem adequate when a tragedy like what happened in our parish in Newcastle today occurs.”
He added: “No words can give comfort at this time”.
A prayer service will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption in Newcastle today (Saturday) at midday to support Freya’s friends, family, and the entire community.
Scoil Mhuire Caisleán Nua is providing support for students and parents today (Saturday) and in the days ahead.
The tragedy occurred just two weeks into Freya’s summer holidays.
Independent TD Mattie McGrath stated that “everyone in the village is numb after what has happened.
It’s a very close knit community. Our thoughts are with the young girl’s family, her mother and younger brother whom I know well.”
Deputy McGrath also expressed his gratitude to the emergency services and the “so many locals who did their best” to help save Freya and who are now “rallying around her family.”
