2013
My name is Dawn Marie Knight and I am 45 years old. I have been married to Kevin for nearly 24 years and we have 3 children. Aidan 21, Tara 19 and Kieran 16. Aidan and Tara are at university and Kieran has been in Heaven since 24th July 2013.
Kevin, Tara and Kieran and I were holidaying in Messanges in South West France. We had spent 2 days in mid France and reached our final destination in the evening on 23rd July. On 24th July, Tara’s 19th birthday, Tara and I went to the pool, Kevin walked along the beach and Kieran went to the “Base” activities on site. We met up for lunch and then spent an hour or so after lunch getting ourselves ready for the beach. Around 2.50-3pm we walked onto the beach. Kieran set up the parasol, Tara and I settled ourselves down for a sunbathe with a book, and Kevin and Kieran ran out to greet the waves of the sea. After about 10 minutes, Kieran ran back and enthusiastically said he needed his goggles. That was the last time I saw him.
Kevin and Kieran had been within their depths at chest level. Kevin advised Kieran to come back to the shore with him, was about 1 metre in front of him but when he turned around Kieran had disappeared.
There was a large rescue operation employed which continued over the next couple of days. Early on Saturday 27th July Kieran’s body was found by a French Fisherman. He had drowned. It appears the currents, even in shallow water, can be dangerous and although we will never know what happened, I suspect that Kieran jumped into a large wave and got caught in an unexpected current. He probably swallowed water and could not get his breath.
When in France there are certain memories imprinted on my brain forever. Indeed there was also humour amongst the awfulness. It is said that laughing and crying are closely related emotions!
When we returned I needed to pour out my emotions and did this via my Facebook status. I then decided that perhaps I should do a blog. There is no purpose to this other than to share stories and emotions as I grieve and seek to make sense of losing my son so tragically and unexpectedly. I know that tragedies happen all the time and each death and person’s grieving is unique. However, perhaps one day someone may find these words of some use or comfort to them as I grasp onto the hope that at some point I will come out the other side.
Kieran- shaped sadness will always be in the centre of my soul but it is said that you learn to live with it. So- I don’t know when I will learn to live with it as I am still in the midst but share my blog please if you wish.
Dawn's Journey 