A memorial mass is to be held on Saturday for an Irish man in his 40s who died in a swimming accident earlier this year on a beach south-west of Perth in Australia.
In February, the family of Damien Lucey placed a white rose at the exact spot where he entered the water on January 8th, 2024.
The native of Cork was last seen in the sea at Honeycombs Beach, in Busselton. He got in to difficulty and his calls for help were heard by two passers-by. Despite extensive search efforts, his body has yet to be found.
In a notice on Rip.ie his family said that they would like to thank the Land and Water Police departments in Dunsborough, the Smiths Beach Surf Life Saving Club and Damien’s friends for their “support and kindness”in the wake of the tragedy.
Mr Lucey was living in Perth at the time of his passing.
He had previously resided in Rosewood in Ballincollig and in Ballinhassig in Cork. He was predeceased by his father Jimmy.
Damien is survived by his mother Frankie, his siblings Gretta, Marie, Carol, Patrick and Eleanor.
A memorial mass will take place at noon on Saturday in the Church of St Mary and St John in Ballincollig.
In the aftermath of the accident, friends of Mr Lucey set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money to support his family as they made the journey to Australia in a bid to recover his body.
The organisers of the page said they were grateful for the “overwhelming generosity” shown to the grieving family.
“You are all so kind and the donations and words of support have been so appreciated.
"Thanks to your generous donations, Damien's Mother Frankie and his siblings were able to travel to Perth to aid in his search and meet with his Perth friends and colleagues. As in Cork, the support in Perth has been enormous and search efforts unwavering.”
Mr Lucey was fondly remembered by Ballincollig AFC, where he was a former player and by friends both in Australia and Ireland.
Police in Perth said in a statement that an “extensive search” was conducted involving local police, water police, several Volunteer Marine Rescue groups, Surf Life Saving and a rescue helicopter.
“At this stage police have deemed that, tragically, the 42-year-old man drowned at Honeycombs Beach. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.”
