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The remains of Irishman David Gavin have been recovered in Canada.<\/p>\nThe remains of Irishman David Gavin have been recovered in Canada.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old Mayo man had been missing since last June after he got into difficulty jumping from a bridge in British Columbia.<\/p>\n
Several searches were carried out last summer before being stood down for the winter months.<\/p>\n
His local GAA club Breaffy have tweeted to say “It is great relief and a lot of sadness that David Gavin’s remains have been recovered from Kinbasket Lake”.<\/p>\n
“Water levels had reduced greatly in recent weeks to allow a search to be resumed.”<\/p>\n
A memorial service was told last August that his parents have endured every family\u2019s worst nightmare.<\/p>\n
Local priest Fr John McCormack recounted last August how the tragedy had struck at the lake resort, during a packed service at the Church of the Holy Rosary in Castlebar.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast February, David and his girlfriend, Ciara O\u2019Malley, set out for Canada,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were in love with each other and they quickly fell in love with Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis vast country, with its varied landscapes and climates, provided almost limitless opportunities for sport and recreation. David was an outdoors person and he loved all these chances to ski, swim, surf, and mountain climb. He was working on Ciara so that she would love them too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fr McCormack said that the couple, who had been together for nine years, had loved Canada and their life had been \u201cas near to perfect as they could hope for\u201d since moving to Vancouver.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, on the last day of June, tragedy struck. David and some of his GAA club- mates were on their way to Calgary, playing a tournament,\u201d said Fr McCormack.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey stopped off at Kinbasket Lake \u2014 a tranquil place surrounded by mountains, rivers, lakes, and trees. They decided to go for a swim to cool off.<\/p>\n
“David was the first to jump but something went wrong. He hit the water, resurfaced, and then disappeared. His friends responded immediately but were unable to save him.<\/p>\n
“What went wrong we don\u2019t know, and we will never know unless David is found.”<\/p>\n
He said news of the tragedy reached Mr Gavin\u2019s parents, Michael and Angela, and his sister, Aoife, at around 2am on July 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat terrible news quickly spread throughout this community and, just as quickly, this community mobilized and offered unbelievable support to the family, both financial and spiritual,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n