A Cork man whose body was recovered by searchers after he drowned in the River Lee upstream of Cork city has been named locally as 38-year-old Bernard Geasley.

Mr Geasley had entered the water to save his brother who came into difficulty while swimming and became caught in an undercurrent.

A multi-agency search operation was launched in Ballincollig after gardaí received reports of a man in difficulty in the water at approximately 8.30pm.

The Coast Guard, Cork City Search and Rescue, Mallow Search and Rescue, Ballincollig Fire Service, and An Garda Síochána were deployed to the scene.

Mr Geasley was recovered from the water at approximately 12.30am on Monday morning and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The local coroner was notified and the body has since been removed to Cork University Hospital.

Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Colm Kelleher who grew up with Mr Geasley in Ballincollig said that he will be calling for the council to erect more signs to warn swimmers of the “dangerous stretch of water”.

“I know water safety is paramount and this time of year people like to go into the river in the warm weather but it’s a dangerous stretch of water.

‘I’ll be calling for the council to put up more signs to warn people swimming because there's parts of the river that have massive undercurrents that’s very deceiving to the eye. Unfortunately, it isn't the first time that the river has taken a life in that area,” he said.

Cllr Kelleher commended the search and rescue teams who “searched well into the night” and conveyed his condolences to the man’s family.

“We would have all known each other growing up, He was an absolutely gentleman with a heart of gold. God rest his soul,” he said.