Miraculous watch find at sea is no wind-up

A NORTHSIDE man has praised his father’s resilience after he located his missing watch, which spent over 30 hours on the seabed in Portmarnock.

Last Sunday week (August 4), Carl Beirne met his father, Pat (70) for their weekly swim at High Rock.

According to Carl, the sea was very choppy.

“I did a running dive over some rocks and hit the water a little awkwardly,

? he told Northside People.

“As I came back to the surface I realised that my Casio G-shock watch was gone from my wrist.

“As I’ve had the watch for many years it has great nostalgic value so I frantically looked around for it in a desperate hope to rescue it from the surf.

“Clearly it was a lost cause so I left the water dejected. My Dad on the other hand was quite optimistic that he’d find it.

“My Dad asked me to show him roughly where I lost the watch. I pointed to the spot where I thought I lost it but with over 12 feet of rough sea you’d have a better chance of finding a needle in a haystack.

“My Dad spent 15 minutes diving to the seabed looking for the watch to no avail. Later that evening he drove back out to High Rock from Donaghmede and with the sea at low tide he again spent a good time looking for my watch. Unfortunately he came up blank.

?

The following evening (Monday), a determined Pat Beirne drove out to Portmarnock again for another extensive search.

The sea was at low tide and Mr Beirne walked out to the spot where he reckoned his son’s watch came off his wrist.

“Amazingly, he found my watch wedged underneath a rock only metres from where I dived in,

? said Carl.

“When he rang and told me of the find I could not believe it. My watch had spent over 30 hours on the seabed, withstanding rough seas and saw two full tides come and go. It’s truly amazing that my Dad managed to find my watch.

?

Carl said his Dad’s resilience sums up the man.

“He’s very kind, supportive and would go to the end of the earth for anyone,

? he added.

“I hope this story inspires people to believe that

‘in time’ anything is possible. My Dad, my best friend, never ceases to amaze me.

?

Pat, a former fitter with Cadbury, and a few friends started swimming at High Rock over 40 years ago.

There are now over 40 swimmers in the group, of all ages, and they meet regularly.

Pat told Northside People:

“I told Carl that even though the watch was waterproof and shock-proof, it didn’t mean that it wouldn’t come off.

“Because I’m retired and have a bit of time on my hands, I said that I wouldn’t let it go without a try.

“The other swimmers joked and said:

‘Would you not just buy him a new watch?’ but he was really close to this one.

“I would liked to have said that I found it in 12 feet of water (the depth at high tide) but that was not the case. At low tide when I found it, it was partially hidden under a rock. Three quarters of the strap was sticking out.

?

Pat said he wouldn’t describe himself as the greatest optimist, but there’s no doubt he’d win an award for perseverance!