BREAKING: Kildare community is rocked by drowning tragedy in Australia

A father of three who drowned while trying to rescue his daughter from the sea in Australia is from the Naas area . 

Paul Doran, from Co. Kildare, got into difficulty after jumping into the ocean to save his daughter, Lyra at Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head in New South Wales.

According to Evoke.ie, Paul, 45, had moved to Australia with his wife Simonne and their three children only a few months ago. Before that Paul spent years working for his father’s family building business, Pat Doran Construction.

He is originally from the townland of Tipperkevin, on the Ballymore Eustace side of Punchestown Racecourse and his family have links with Eadestown GAA club. 

Mr Doran had been working in recent months for a construction company near the family’s new home in NSW. On Wednesday, the family were in the shallow water at Seven Mile Beach at about 6.30pm when their 11-year-old daughter Lyra began to drift out to sea on her bodyboard.

It’s understood that it’s the second tragedy to hit the Doran family and a younger brother of Paul died in an accident as a child three decades ago.

Paul and Simonne, who were both crossfit fitness enthusiasts, swam out to save Lyra, the Evoke.ie report states. According to local police, Paul managed to grab onto the board but lost his grip and was pulled under by a powerful riptide.

The couple have two other children Vann, who was born in 2010 and Shay, who was born in 2014. The three children attended Scoil Chéile Chríost national school in Rathmore prior to their departure in September.

New South Wales Ambulance paramedics rendered CPR assistance, but were unable to revive Paul, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Simonne and Lyra were treated by paramedics and allowed to go home. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

It is the tenth coastal drowning in NSW so far during Australia’s summer, and the third involving a parent who was trying to rescue a child.

Scott McCarthy, a lifeguard coordinator, told Australia TV that people do jump into the sea to rescue family members but "the ocean is very unforgiving."