The day a Sunday outing turned to terrible tragedy

TWENTY five years have passed since a Sunday outing to a popular beauty spot turned to tragedy, claiming the lives of two people with close ties to Omagh.

On May 21, 2000, 29-year-old Charles McCausland – a father-of-six formerly from Lisanelly Heights – dived into the River Bann at Drumaheglis Marina near Ballymoney in a desperate attempt to save 14-year-old schoolboy Colin Kitchener, who had fallen into the water.

Neither of them could swim. Both were carried away by the river’s strong current. Five hours later, following a massive search and rescue effort involving air and sea crews, their bodies were discovered lying face down in five feet of water.

Charles and Colin had both lived in Lisanelly Heights, Omagh, before relocating to Coleraine.

On that fateful Sunday, they were among a group of friends enjoying a day out at Drumaheglis Marina, near Ballymoney. The marina was busy with families, children splashing in the river, and teenagers exploring the boats moored along the jetty.

Early in the afternoon, the outing turned to tragedy.

Witnesses described how the two had walked to the end of the jetty to look at boats.

As Charles began to return to shore, a sudden splash shattered the calm. Colin had fallen into the water.

Both he and Charles were non-swimmers. But without a moment’s hesitation, Charles jumped in after the teenage boy. Neither resurfaced.

Charles’s partner, Fiona, who had been standing nearby, later recalled the horrifying moment.

“There was a large inflatable thing at the end of the pier and Colin went to have a look,” she told the Ulster Herald at the time.

“The next thing I heard was the splash. Colin had fallen in. Right away, Charlie jumped in after him – and neither of them came up again. They just vanished.”

A major rescue operation was launched involving police divers, the fire service, air support and the coastguard.

But after five hours, the search ended in heartbreak. Their bodies were found lying side by side on the riverbed, just a short distance from the jetty.

Charles McCausland’s final act did not surprise those who knew him.

Two years earlier, in the immediate aftermath of the Omagh bombing, he had shown similar courage.

As chaos gripped the town following the August 15, 1998 atrocity, Charles used his own car to transport the injured from Market Street to hospital, folding down the back seats and making multiple trips through the confusion and carnage.

For his actions that day, he was awarded a certificate of commendation by the RUC.

“When I heard he had jumped into the river, it didn’t surprise me,” said his brother-in-law Geoff Hawkes. “It was typical of the man.”

Colin Kitchener had attended Gibson and Campsie primary schools in Omagh, later moving between Coleraine Boys’ Secondary School and Omagh High School. His death devastated his family and friends – especially those back in Omagh, where neighbours were left in disbelief.

An inquest later heard testimony from a man who claimed he saw a teenage girl push Colin into the water. A 13-year-old was later charged with unlawful killing but was found not guilty. The coroner, David Hunter, concluded that Colin fell into the river and got into difficulty. Charles made ‘a valiant attempt’ to save him but also drowned.

Charles was buried at St Mary’s Church, Killyclogher.

He is survived by his wife Mary, their six children, and a large family circle.

Colin was laid to rest in Dublin Road Cemetery, Omagh.