Promising Limerick soccer player who drowned in jet ski crash had given life jacket to passenger

Ms O’Dea said that she was returning the verdict of misadventure as the post-mortem toxicology results showed that the student, Mr Moran, had “very slight’ traces of marijuana in his system.

In a deposition, Mr Moran’s distraught mother, Tracey told the inquest that Wassiou had only purchased his jet ski the day before.

The inquest heard that when he went into the water in an area known as ‘Between the Waters’, Mr Moran had two female passengers on the jet ski and only one of the girls — a girl from Limerick — was wearing a life jacket at the time and that was given to her by Wassiou before she got on.

A player with Limerick FC, Wassiou from Old Clare Street, Limerick city, had never met either girl before May 31, 2023, and had been in contact with one of the girls — a girl from north Tipperary — via Snapchat.

Life jacket

Both girls were aged under 18 at the time and the Limerick girl told the inquest that when earlier getting on the jet ski before 5pm she said: “I got up behind Wassiou. I asked if there was a life jacket. He gave me his jacket.”

The girl said that her friend asked if she could sit between Wassiou and herself on the jet ski “because she didn’t have a life jacket”.

In a deposition, the north Tipperary teenager told the inquest that shortly after getting on the jet ski “when we went towards the bridge, he started doing tricks and doughnuts”.

Her Limerick friend said: “The jet ski took off towards the bridge, it was going too fast.”

The north Tipperary girl said that the three fell off the jet ski the first time Wassiou turned the jet ski slightly and the three were able to get back on it again.

Both girls in their depositions said that Mr Moran said “hold on tight” or “hang on” before performing the fatal turnaround manoeuvre that had all three in the water again.

The two girls were able to swim to a nearby pontoon and the north Tipperary girl said that she could see Wassiou try to swim towards the jet ski in the middle of the water. She said: “I could see his head going up and down but I could not be certain.” 

The Limerick teenager who was the only one to wear a life jacket said: “I never met Wassiou before that day. I didn’t know him.” 

Eye witness

Eye witness, Charlie Hennigar told the inquest that he saw the jet ski “flying” up and down the water at speed and turn back sending a wave towards the people on the pontoon. Mr Hennigar said the jet ski was on the water for about 30 minutes before the accident.

Mr Hennigar said that he didn’t see the jet ski driver come off the jet ski but did see “one hand up and a head below the water” and the jet ski was 10 yards away. Mr Hennigar said that the male “was gone in seconds under the water”.

Mr Hennigar said that a ‘fish finder’ sonar on his boat was able to locate the remains 16.5ft down and he was able to direct divers to the position.

Mr Moran’s body was recovered from the waters at around 7.05pm and he was pronounced dead at 7.24pm. The autopsy results concluded that Mr Moran died of asphyxiation secondary to drowning.

Mr Moran’s mother, Tracey asked the coroner if there was any evidence that her son had hit his head. In reply, Ms O’Dea said that there was no sign of any skull fracture and said: “No, nothing.”

Returning the verdict of misadventure, Ms O’Dea said that misadventure occurs when there is an unintended consequence of an intentional act.