Tributes paid to ‘beautiful soul’ Alex Warnick who died in Grand Canal drowning tragedy

The 42-year-old, whose body was recovered from the Dublin canal with Donal Scanlon (49), was remembered as a “kind hearted man” who was loved by his family and wide circle of friends.

Both men’s bodies were discovered at around 8am last Saturday morning at a section of the canal near Grand Parade and the Charlemont Luas stop.

Both men were known to each other and had lived in Dublin where they were known to the homeless services.

They were sleeping in two adjacent tents on the canal bank close to where their bodies were found.

Gardaí have been investigating if one of the men got into difficulty in the water and the second one died trying to save him.

On his death notice on RIP.ie, numerous messages of sympathy have been left for Alexander (Alex) Warnick of Dublin, and Oregon, USA (who died) on July 6, “following a tragic accident”.

“Sadly missed by his family Greg and Susan and his brothers Josh and Garrett, extended family on his mother’s side, relatives and friends,” the notice reads.

“Loved and missed by his Dublin Street Family, especially Garreth, Beezer and Franco.”

A celebration of Alex’s life will be held at Glasnevin Crematorium on Tuesday, July 16 at 3pm.

In the condolences section, one person has written: “So sad that another beautiful soul has left this world. Prayers to all his friends & family.”

“Alex, a gentleman that made a difference,” added another.

One other person wrote: “So sorry you had to go in such tragic circumstances Alex, my condolences to all Alex’s family and friends. May you rest.

“Alex, I only got to know you through the soup run,” one other person remembered. “I’ll have fond memories of you. You were such a lovely fella with a heart of gold and contagious laugh.

“You passed away being a hero trying to save your friend. Sincere condolences to your beloved family.”

One person said they, “met Alex a few months ago, he was a gentleman and a kind hearted person. Ireland won’t forget our homeless people who have passed while living on the streets.”

A third man who was sleeping in the vicinity at the time has also been interviewed by gardaí in an effort to try to establish the sequence of events leading up to the double tragedy.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive offered its sympathies to the family and friends of both men.

“The DRHE has been in contact with An Garda Síochána and we can confirm that both men were known to the homeless services,” it said in a statement.

The two men who died were camped close to a larger number of tents on the opposite side of the canal currently occupied by a number of asylum seekers.

A statement by An Garda Síochána said gardaí at Donnybrook are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the bodies of the two men at Grand Parade.

“Shortly after 8am, gardaí and emergency services responded to reports of a body in the canal at Grand Parade. The bodies of two males, aged in their 40s, were recovered from the canal a short time later. Both were pronounced deceased at the scene,” it said.

The Office of the State Pathologist and the local Coroner have been notified, and the results of post-mortem examinations will determine the course of garda investigations.