Greek Tragedy

JP Liz V1

Has to be every parents worse nightmare, both attended St. Michael's College in Ballsbridge

RIP

Greek authorities have launched two separate investigations into the deaths of teenage friends Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall, who died in separate incidents on the island of Ios, where they were on holiday celebrating the end of the Leaving Cert

TooTired123

Going on a sun holiday post LC exams appears to be a Dublin “thing”?

I live in Thurles and a quick poll around the office yesterday tells that it doesn’t seem to be a fashion here.

Nightmarish tragedy. My friends brother in law died peacefully but suddenly on holidays in Corfu and there needed to be 2 post mortems and endless red tape in order to bring his remains home. At least 10 days. RIP.

sydthebeat

Nope not a "Dublin" thing ... Just an affordability thing.

loopymum

I don't think it's a Dublin thing. Lots of holidays like that where I live in the last few years or so.

Lots of love 2023 5th years going as well with their older friends.

They are all working earning minimum wage which is pretty decent when you have no bills to pay

poker--addict

What are the chances of two separate incidents in same group of people? It's hard to believe. I hope that statement of unrelated separate events is correct and backed by every irish person there. Authorities in holiday resort areas have been known to want such stories to go away asap. I don't think that's the case here as there is no suggestion otherwise, and I hope that remains so in coming days.

Terrible tragedy. It will no doubt have a profound impact on several others in attendance.

Another irish man passed away suddenly the weekend before on another Greek island.

I see sheep

Very sad.

Kids have always gone away after LC, used to be Spain 20 yrs ago.

walshb

Awful sad to hear of two such young lives lost in a flash. Desperate..

Jequ0n

Always shocking to hear that someone could fall off a cliff during a night out. Pretty sure it happens somewhere every year, sadly. I’m not sure why so many people need to leave the place asap though.

elperello

RIP

Sincere condolences to families and friends.

TheValeyard

Every parents worst nightmare.

The poor lads also on the trip. That's a celebration turned into an horrific scarring memory.

LC trip was definitely a thing back in my day

RIP to the lads

mailforkev

This is one of those stories that the media are unfortunately going to drag out rather than let the family and friends of the poor young lads grieve in peace. Mostly because the lads are from middle class south Dublin and the papers love a bit of that (à la Anabel's).

The other poor chap who died a few days earlier in Zakynthos was from Laois so he only got a few column inches.

South county Dublin is a small place and people love gossip. I have no direct connection with Michael's but was sent a WhatsApp message within about an hour of this being made public with all the details of what happened the two lads from a friend who is connected. It's all very unfortunate for the people involved but it's not exactly a public interest story.

Also, the papers are making it out that this is some new thing, myself and a small group of friends spent the summer in Ios over 20 years ago (when they still used Drachmas). It was a lovely little place with friendly locals. Lots of Irish, some Italians, some Israelis, few Aussies. No trouble at all. Young people get too drunk and do stupid stuff, all it takes is a split second action or freak accident for something to go very wrong, that has been and will always be the case.

TokTik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120802613#Comment_120802613

A group from my town were over in Ios earlier in the summer, start of June. 2 got violently ill, one had to be hospitalised and his family flew over. Staff at the hospital told his mother that when the bars realise kids are drunk this summer, that some of the bars were switching out alcohol for window cleaner.

Both lads are fine now, but the one that was hospitalised was in for almost a week.

anewme

a young relative went over to work for the summer and knew the young lad from Laois. That was the end of her working there and she came home.

She said the environment there was very rough and it was not a healthy or safe place to be.

scudzilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120802723#Comment_120802723

Laganas, in Zakynthos, is an utter kip, we stay in Kalamaki which is a few miles away, it's well known that the 'cheap' booze they sell in Laganas is far from healthy and above board.

RachEv

Delete

rogber

Very sad. What's the reason being given? Booze and misadventure?

Odhinn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803435#Comment_120803435

None so far, save the fact that one of them had previously had heart surgery.

Bridget Clarke

Utter nightmare scenario. May God help all concerned.

spaceHopper

It's really sad, from what I read on reddit, it's a accidental fall and medical, nothing suspicious involved, except maybe drink in the fall.

RIP

PokeHerKing

I was in crete 20 years ago for my LC holiday. Surprised to hear anyone thinks its a Dublin centric thing. Pretty sure it's worldwide.

I've seen footage of the kids doing shots at the bar with helmets on and then the barman cracking them in the head with a lump hammer.

No idea what the point of it is but when you're young and dumb it probably looks like a bit of craic.

RIP to the two young men. Awful tragedy.

Munstergirl854

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120802397#Comment_120802397

If 2 dead isnt going to sap the energy out of the holiday what would?

It wouldnt look right to be staying put and having the time of your life every night would it...The Daily Mail had an article saying the Greek Police will investigate whether their drinks were spiked...this may tie in with the other poster said about swapping alcohol with window cleaner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120804889#Comment_120804889

Did the auld Hersonnonsos (Crete also I think) holiday after LC. Absolute mayhem and great times. When I look back there were some big risks taken. Silly stuff that makes me cringe now but some of the best memories. It's a right of passage.

And it's the way it should have been for these guys. It is just an utter incomprehensible tragedy and my thoughts goes out to their families. It has occupied my mind since I heard. No doubt I crossed paths with them in Tesco Merrion where you would see all the groups of Michaels lads in around lunchtime.

How awful their friends must feeling now, I'm sure they will look out for each other and get through the grief together.

RIP Lads.

Jequ0n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120805220#Comment_120805220

Yeah spiking is usually the immediate reaction when these stories break. And then the topic gets dropped as usual.

Goldengirl

Awful for the families and all their friends . Sincere condolences to them

Have just got one of mine home from somewhere else hot and alcohol fuelled , so can only say love them and tell them you do, regularly and often .

You can't wrap them in cotton wool even if that is what everyone will want to do now . You can't stop them going out and away on holiday , or stop terrible accidents happening.

Mine worked and saved their own money to go away with their friends and I know that we did it and so did my friend's kids around the country and in every other country ..that's what teenagers do .

Rest in peace to those two lads and the lad in Zakynthos as well .

kippy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120804889#Comment_120804889

This is definetly not a "normal thing" and it sure as hell was less done 20 years ago.

Certain socio-economic areas may have done it 20 years ago, however the older ages at which Leaving Certs are now as well as greater levels of money around probably have made it more do-able - ryanair flights have opened it up more now as well.

I am not necessarily against this type of break (provided they pay for it themselves) - young people (myself included back in the day) flirt with injury and death on a relatively regular basis when you think back over your own youth - it's often a matter of ifs and buts that you came out the right side of an incident and had the opportunity to learn from it as opposed to not get that chance, as these two lads appear to have ended up.

It really is a thin line between life and death.

May they RIP

TokTik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120806507#Comment_120806507

I don’t think it’s spiking per say, just cost cutting. Kids aren’t going to realise what they’re drinking once they’re drunk.

JP Liz V1

From DublinLive

Initial results from the postmortems on two Irish teenagers who died hours apart on a Greek island were revealed last night.

The preliminary findings indicated Andrew O’Donnell died from a fall while Max Wall’s death was attributed to cardiac problems. Max had a history of heart issues for which he had previously undergone surgery.

However, the full toxicology and post mortem results for the Dublin classmates are not expected to be ready for at least a week.

WrenBoy

Very sad story. Can't imagine what their friends and families are going through.