The heartbroken son of a Cork man who was killed in a hurricane in Florida this week has said: “The world has lost a legend.”
71-year-old Aidan Bowles, who was originally from Glanmire, moved to the US over three decades ago. His son Sam said his father had planned to visit Cork again in the near future.
He had been employed as an attorney and publican during his lengthy career, but prided himself on being Irish and returned home regularly.
Mr Bowles was named after he was tragically killed when Category 4-level Hurricane Helene ripped through the US. The death toll from the hurricane has now reached at least 130. Hundreds more people are still unaccounted for across several states, and US President Joe Biden is to travel to North Carolina to monitor rescue efforts as the White House’s response has become a bitter topic in the election.
It tore into the Indian Rocks Beach in Pinellas County, Florida, where residents were told to evacuate.
Sam posted an image of his late father on Facebook, saying: “The world lost a legend to Hurricane Helene in Florida on Thursday night.
“Rest in peace Aidan Bowles.”
He continued in a second post: “I don’t even know what to say. Today I not only lost my dad, I lost my Superman.
“This guy was the strongest and smartest person I’ve ever met in my life. He truly made an impact in his life on not just me but everyone he came into contact with.
“Unfortunately, my father didn’t make it through Hurricane Helene last night and passed away in his home early this morning.
“I will be arranging a celebration of life for him when I have a chance. I have an immense amount of things to deal with right now, so please be patient,” he added.
In an emotional tribute, Sam told of how his father, who adopted him when he was a year old, had emigrated to the United States at the age of 20 “with just $800 in his pocket” and went on to have a very successful career as an attorney in New York.
“He was a superhero. He adopted me when I was a one-year-old. He has done so much for me and for everyone he has come into contact with. He was so funny. He knew how to say it and when to say it.”
The remains of Mr Bowles were discovered in his one-storey cottage on Indian Rocks Beach a day after the storm by his neighbour John Comer.
It is understood that Mr Comer discovered Mr Bowles’ body trapped under a dresser. Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said Mr Bowles appeared to have drowned from rising water that entered the residence.
Speaking to from his home in Kentucky, Sam recalled the last conversation he had with his dad was the night before he died.
“I called him around 10pm last Thursday night, and he told me there was nothing to worry about, that everything was fine, and the storm had already passed him,” he said.
“The next morning around 9.30am, I got a call from the police to say my father was deceased in his home and there was about eight to 10 feet of water surrounding it.”
