Grandmother drowns in an effort to rescue her dog

Tragic news

Wendy Maxine Herbst, who was in her 80s, got into difficulty in the water during the stormy weather conditions on Saturday afternoon. 

The Coast Guard was then called to Magherabeg Beach. Gardaí said the body of a woman was recovered from the sea at around 4 pm, while another person was taken to the hospital. 

It is understood that the dog survived the horrific ordeal. 

On RIP.ie, a family notice confirmed that Ms Herbst (née McCullough), of Kilpoole Hill Farm, Wicklow, was ‘taken too soon in a tragic accident by sea, while saving a family dog’. 

It continued: “Wendy will be sadly missed by her loving husband Michael Eamon and children Marco, Siobhan, Fiona, Juliet and Orson, their partners and 10 grandchildren.”

Her family has said that funeral arrangements will follow in due course. They added that donations to the Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Station are welcome. 

Ms Herbst was the director of Herbst Software and was also well known among the equestrian community. 

Her husband, Michael, had established Polo Wicklow on their land in 1993, which eventually became Ireland’s only all-year-round polo facility. It celebrated its 30th anniversary in May of 2023.

Following the tragedy, the Bray Harriers extended their deepest sympathy to the Herbst family. It said: “Wendy was a true animal lover and a fantastic supporter of all things equestrian,” per Extra.ie.

Friends and family shared their condolences on RIP.ie, many referring to Ms Herbst's kindness and strength. 

A great-niece wrote: “She was the bosom of the family – steadfast, loving, and the one who held everyone together, with a heart of gold. There was nobody quite like her.”