A fundraiser has been established to help support the family and friends of missing GAA star David Gavin.

Mr Gavin, who is originally from Castlebar in Co Mayo, went missing after he dived off a bridge over the Beaver River, in British Colombia, on Friday afternoon.

The Irish Sporting and Social Club Vancouver has set up the online fundraiser to help financially support the 26-year-old's devastated family, who have travelled to Canada.

They said: "David was on his way with his teammates to play for the Vancouver Irish Sporting & Social GAA Club in the Western Canadian Championship, which were due to take place this past weekend in Calgary, Alberta.

"A dive team from the Royal Canadian Mountain Police is currently at the lake and the agonising search is continuing to locate David.

"David had recently moved to Canada with his girlfriend, and is a hugely popular figure within the Irish GAA community in Vancouver and within the GAA community at home with his club Breaffy and with his county Mayo.

"David's family have now arrived from Ireland to Kinbasket Lake, and are now waiting in hope that the divers will be able to recover him.

"In order to help David's family, girlfriend Ciara, her family, friends and teammates at this time, we've set up this page in order to raise as much funds as we can to support the search and associated expenses in locating David and getting him home."

The appeal has a $75,000 (€51,000) target and within two hours it quickly already amassed over $19,000 (€13,000) in donations.

Read More

This comes just a day after Breaffy GAA said their members are "heartbroken".

They said in a post on their Facebook page: "Breaffy GAA are heartbroken to report that our good friend David Gavin is reported missing in Canada following a swimming incident.

"We stand with David's family, girlfriend and his many worried friends and pray that David will be found soon and back in the safe arms of those who love him so much.

"You are all welcome to join us for a special Mass of support at Breaffy GAA Clubhouse on Wednesday 5th of July at 9.30pm"

To donate to the fundraiser, please visit here.

Read More

Online Editors