He has been named locally as Stephen O’Callaghan (55) who was from Arbour Hill, St Luke’s on the Northside of Cork City
The alarm was raised shortly before 3pm on Friday after a group of four people were seen struggling in the water at Inch Strand near Whitegate in Co Cork.
After seeing the casualties, it is understood that a man entered the water in an attempt to rescue them.
He has been named locally as Stephen O’Callaghan (55) who was from Arbour Hill, St Luke’s on the Northside of Cork City
It is understood conditions were difficult at sea at the time of the incident and a multi-agency search and rescue mission was launched immediately.
This included the Irish Naval Service, Cork County Fire Service, the Irish Coast Guard and Ballycotton and Crosshaven RNLI.
The four casualties were brought to shore safely by members of the public and received treatment from paramedics at the scene.
Mr O’Callaghan is believed to have been swept further out to sea by a strong undercurrent.
His body was brought ashore.
He was transferred into the care of the National Ambulance Service and was later pronounced deceased.
Arrangements will now be made for a post-mortem and the local coroner has been notified.
Paying tribute one friend wrote ‘”Awfully sad, god bless him, he truly died a hero.
“My heart goes out to the kids he saved and his family and friends.
“God give ye strength to get through yer heartache. Sincere Sympathies, May his selfless kind soul RIP’’.
One relative also wrote ‘’Rip Cousin Stephen’’. No funeral arrangements have been made as yet.
A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí and local emergency services responded to an incident in Inch Strand in Whitegate, Co.Cork shortly before 3pm this afternoon, Friday, 23rd August 2024.
“A number of people had gotten into difficulty in the water at the location. A man, aged in his 50s, was removed from the water. He was later pronounced deceased.
“Arrangements will now be made for a post-mortem and the local coroner has been notified.”
A spokesperson for Valentia Coast Guard confirmed: “Today at 3pm the coastguard at MRSC Valencia were alerted to a number of persons at difficulty in the water at Inch Beach in County Cork.
“A search and rescue mission was immediately initiated with the local coast guard unit from Guileen. Crosshaven Coast Guard boats and Crosshaven RNLI were dispatched to the scene. Ballycotton RNLI was also tasked in addition to a rescue 117 helicopter from Waterford.
“All persons were rescued from the water by members of the public and were attended to on the scene by the National Ambulance Service.
However, subsequently one person who was recovered from the water required serious medical attention.
“The aeromedical rescue helicopter was tasked by the national emergency operation centre in Dublin, along with two ambulances from the National Ambulance Service. Cork County Fire Bridge and the Irish Naval service offered assistance in the operation.”
