Irish Water Safety (IWS) has urged members of the public to be vigilant in the water following two separate drowning incidents in Cork at the weekend.
Michael O’Driscoll (21) of Model Farm Road in Cork city got in to difficulties in the river Lee near Inniscarra Graveyard in Co Cork at about 12.30am this morning. His body was recovered from the water a short time later.
A postmortem is due to take place at Cork University Hospital (CUH)this afternoon.
Members of Ballincollig Fire Brigade, gardaí from Gurranabraher and the Regional Support unit attended at the scene. Mr O’Driscoll was part of a group of men who were swimming in the river late at night.
Five young men were arrested for public order incidents shortly after the drowning tragedy. Two young men were arrested at the scene in Inniscarra and a further three arrests were made at the emergency department in CUH.
Meanwhile, a 17 year old transition year student who got in to difficulties on Sunday afternoon while swimming in the River Blackwater near Knocknagree in North Cork has died.
Chris O’ Sullivan of Gleann Rua, Rathmore, Co Kerry died in Kerry General Hospital shortly after 5am today. Chris and his friends had attended a GAA match on Sunday afternoon prior to their decision to go in for a swim in the water at Lisheen Bridge.
Two HSE ambulance crews responded to a call for assistance. They were aided by a unit of the local fire brigade who also attended the scene along with an Air Corps helicopter.
Spokesman for IWS, John Leech, asked holidaymakers to take care near water.
“Rivers are by far the most hazardous place to swim. So only do it (swim) in designated bathing areas and preferably with a lifeguard.”
Mr Leech said hot weather often lulls people in to a false sense of security.
“ Swimming may give the feeling of warmth but muscles cool quickly in cold water which may impair a person’s ability to swim ashore. Children are curious about water therefore it is critical that adults supervise children at all times at beaches, inland waterways and farms.”
Another man was airlifted to hospital when he got in to difficulty swimming off north Dublin. The man had been swimming across the channel from Howth to Malahide when the alarm was raised at 5.40pm yesterday.
A Howth RNLI team made its way to the scene where the swimmer, having being dragged to shore by two friends who had raised the alarm, was located on the south-eastern tip of Donabate Strand. The lifeboat crew assessed the man and administered first aid on the scene before he was airlifted to hospital by the Coast Guard.