THE Berkeley balcony that collapsed, claiming the lives of six Irish students, had decayed to the point of 'severe dry rot', a report has revealed.
An investigation was launched by local authorities in Berkeley, California last week after the balcony gave way in the early hours of Tuesday, June 16 at a home in Library Gardens apartments.
Investigators at the Building and Safety division of the City of Berkeley authority found that the beams supporting the balcony looked 'extensively rotten', where the structure tore away from the wall.
Several Irish students had been enjoying a 21st birthday party at the time – with 13 of them falling 40 feet to street level when the balcony gave way.
Eimear Walsh, Niccolai Schuster, Lorcán Miller, Eoghan Culligan and cousins Olivia Walsh and Ashley Donohoe all lost their lives in the incident.
Seven other students were hospitalised, with all but one remaining in the US for treatment.
Yesterday, Seán Fahy became the first of the injured to leave hospital, as he flew home to Dublin with his family.
The report also found that the balcony below the fourth floor also appeared to be effected by dry rot – and outlined recommendations to reduce the probability of this occurring, as well as 'other moisture-related damage'.
