The 19-year-old Cork student who died yesterday when the car in which she was a passenger was swept away by a flash flood was trapped in the vehicle for more than four hours before the alarm was raised.
The dead woman was Catherine McCarthy (19), of Clashadoo, Durrus. The 17-year-old driver of the car, whose name has not been released, eventually freed himself and summoned help.
The accident occurred at 2.30 a.m. at Letterlickey ford on a little-used secondary road between Bantry and Durrus in west Cork, where a small tributary of the Durrus river crosses the road.
The route is known to local people as a shortcut, but is rarely used by other motorists. Due to recent storms and the unusually high level of rainfall in the area, the Durrus had burst its banks and the water level in the ford had reached at least four feet when the car was driven into it.
It is understood that the car was immediately washed into the Durrus, swept 400 yards downriver and flipped over on its roof. The driver and his companion were trapped for four hours in the vehicle before he managed to escape and summon help.
When members of Bantry Fire Brigade reached the scene attempts were made to resuscitate Ms McCarthy, but she was pronounced dead on arrival at Bantry General Hospital at 7 a.m.
Ms McCarthy was a student at the College of Commerce in Cork city. Her companion was said yesterday to be recovering but in a state of shock.
Ms McCarthy's body was removed last night to Cork University Hospital, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out today by the assistant State pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster.
The tragedy has shocked the village of Durrus, which is close to the home of the dead woman.
Ms McCarthy was one of a family of 11 children and is survived by her parents, John and Mary, as well as by six sisters and four brothers.