A Dublin coroner’s inquest has heard that a 33-year-old construction worker in Ireland drowned after falling into the Inner Dock in Dublin’s north inner city, despite his friend managing to keep his head above the water for about 40 minutes before emergency crews reached them.
Robson Nkosana Prince Nkomo, who was staying at the Ripley Court Hotel on Talbot Street, Dublin 1, was pronounced dead at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital on 11 November 2024 after doctors spent more than four hours attempting to revive him.
The hearing into the death of the separated father of two, who had previously lived in Tralee, Co Kerry, was told by his mother that her son had been “a very good swimmer.”
Euredis Chippendo, giving evidence via video link before Dublin District Coroner’s Court, formally identified her son’s body to gardaí at Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall.
Responding to questions from Coroner Clare Keane, Ms Chippendo explained that she had learned to swim from her son, who had been swimming since kindergarten.
The court heard that Mr Nkomo and his friend, Emeraldo Fernandez, went to the Inner Dock at Harbourmaster Place at about 8.30pm to drink a few cans of beer.
Evidence showed the pair climbed over safety chains surrounding the dock and sat on the quay wall with their legs hanging over the edge.
Fernandez told the inquest that Mr Nkomo had initially suggested they return to the Ripley Court Hotel because he was exhausted from commuting four hours by train each day for work.
However, he said his friend walked away before returning and climbing back over the chain, where he appeared to lose his balance and fall into the water.
Fernandez recalled shouting at Mr Nkomo to remove his shoes and backpack as he struggled in the dock.
After about three minutes, Fernandez jumped into the water when it became clear that his friend could no longer stay afloat.
The witness said he managed to swim with Mr Nkomo to an emergency ladder, where he and a passer-by supported his friend’s head above the water.
“I don’t know how I did that,” said Fernandez, who was later treated in hospital for mild hypothermia.
He also told Dr Keane that Mr Nkomo had become unresponsive while they remained in the water.
Garda Ava Daimon testified that Mr Nkomo was in a critical condition when members of Dublin Fire Brigade eventually pulled him from the dock.
The inquest heard that rescuers faced difficulties accessing the location, requiring the use of a crane lift to recover him from the water.
According to Garda Daimon, Mr Nkomo remained in the Inner Dock for between 40 and 45 minutes before being lifted to safety.
She said CCTV footage captured the entire incident and supported the account given by Mr Fernandez.
The court also heard that a passer-by threw a lifebuoy to assist the two men in the water.
Medical records from the Mater Hospital’s emergency department showed Mr Nkomo arrived at 10.31pm suffering the effects of prolonged immersion in cold water.
Doctors ventilated and warmed his body, but he never regained signs of life and was officially pronounced dead at 2.56am the following morning.
Coroner Dr Keane said a postmortem examination determined that the cause of death was drowning.
She also noted that Mr Nkomo’s blood alcohol concentration was just under four times the legal drink-driving limit.
Dr Keane said the reading was “not extremely high” but confirmed that Mr Nkomo would have been intoxicated.
Returning a verdict of misadventure, the coroner said several factors contributed to the tragedy, including the deceased entering an area secured by safety chains, his fatigue, and the fact that he was wearing a backpack when he fell into the water.
Dr Keane added that evidence from Mr Nkomo’s mother showed he had recently sustained a hand injury that required a cast, which would also have affected his ability to swim in the cold water.
Ms Chippendo Nkomo replied that she had experienced cold water plunges where she could only stay immersed for a maximum of two minutes.
“I can only imagine what it was like for 40 minutes,” she added.
Despite the tragic circumstances, Ms Nkomo said she now had “peace of mind” after learning the full details surrounding her son’s death.
Dr Keane extended her condolences to Mr Nkomo’s family members, including his former partner, Alicia Corridan, and his twin sister, Ruth Nkomo, who attended the inquest by video link, describing the incident as “an extremely unexpected traumatic event.”
