LATEST: Man dies in accident on Cape Clear island after football went over cliff

A man in his forties has died following an accident in Cape Clear island in West Cork.

It is understood the man was playing football with members of his family late yesterday afternoon (Sat) when their ball went over the cliff. The man set off on a route to the foot of the cliffs to get the ball back. However, he failed to return. A family member raised the alarm.

A search and Rescue operation was carried out involving the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 and Baltimore's RNLI lifeboat. 

In a statement Baltimore RNLI said they were requested to launch last night (Saturday) at 8.10pm by Valentia Coast Guard, following reports that a person was in the water off Cape Clear, in West Cork.

"Both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched, and a person was taken from the water and brought onboard the inshore lifeboat, by lifeboat crew.

"They returned to the Baltimore lifeboat station, before transferring the person into the care of emergency services."

The body of the man was subsequently recovered during the search. He was taken to Baltimore RNLI station where he was pronounced dead by an area GP. It is understood the deceased man is from County Cork.

A postmortem will be carried out at Cork University Hospital to determine the exact cause of death. It is not known if he died of a head injury or drowning.

The coroner has been informed and a file will be prepared for the Coroner's Court. The death is being treated as a tragic accident.

This is the second tragedy to hit Co Cork this week. Last Sunday Polish mother of two Joanna Wisniowśka died after she went in to the sea in East Cork in a bid to save her son who was experiencing difficulties. A funeral service for Joanna Wisniowśka took place at St Colman’s Church in Cloyne, Co Cork on Friday night.

Joanna passed away at CUH last Sunday afternoon. She had gone in to the water at Ballycroneen Beach earlier that day as her ten year old son was in trouble in the water. Fortunately, the youngster avoided serious injury as he managed to may his way on to the rocks on the shore.

Joanna is survived by her husband Maciek, her children Stanley and Zosia, her parents Alicia and Tadeus, her sister Magdalenia and brother in law Piotor.

She is also deeply mourned by her in-laws, nieces, nephews and family.

She will be laid to rest in her home town of Strzyzow in the coming days. A Go Fund me page set up to assist her family has raised in excess of €33,000.