A FREAK twist of fate claimed the life of a 13-year-old schoolboy who drowned when he became trapped in a mud bank in the River Foyle.Brian McDaid was playing with two friends in the tidal lower reaches of the river not far from his home at Ardnameala, St. Johnston, when the accident happened on Monday, a bank holiday in Ireland.His parish priest Monsignor Dan Carr said that the river in that area is a popular recreation spot with local youngsters and it would have been quite normal for Brian and his pals to go there on beautiful, sunny bank holiday as Monday was."There was a low tide and large stretches of sand and mud were laid bare. The boys walked out to a little bit of raised land out on the river. It was something like a small island," Carr said."They got there safely and, like all boys would do, they ventured on to another little bit of raised ground and got there safely. But totally unknown to the unsuspecting children the tide turned and very soon the mud and sand that was once firm and strong became soft and just wasn't able to support the weight of the children."Carr said two of the boys made it back to the first piece of raised ground but it wasn't to be for Brian. One, who was a strong swimmer, got there first. The other was still with Brian for a while when they felt themselves slipping into a muddy hole.An Irish Coastguard helicopter flew to the scene from its base at Strandhill, Co. Sligo. A Northern Ireland police chopper also joined the search for a period.Four rescue boats also searched and dozens of villagers scoured the banks of the river for three hours after the accident was reported."It was some consolation to the boy's family and his locality that his body was recovered before darkness fell," Carr said."It was a really dreadful tragedy on such a beautiful day. The entire community has been numbed."