Body of child recovered from water in Fountainstown

The body of an eight-year-old girl was recovered from the water in Fountainstown at around 7.45pm this evening following an extensive search operation.

It is understood the child got in to difficulty at around 4.30pm. 

Emergency services including gardaí and ambulance services were involved in a major search operation this afternoon.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said earlier that they were "engaged in a search operation along the coastline at Fountainstown Beach, near Crosshaven, Co. Cork."

The Irish Coastguard helicopter was launched from Shannon. 

The search at Cork Harbour was also assisted by Crosshaven Lifeboat and other vessels.

A postmortem on the body of the child will be carried out at Cork University Hospital. 

An inquest will likely follow in the coming months.

A garda statement issued tonight read: "A search and rescue operation at Fountainstown Beach, near Crosshaven, Co. Cork, has been stood down following the recovery of the body of a female child this evening, Tuesday 5th September 2023.

"At approximately 4:40pm this afternoon, Gardaí received report of a female child entering the water at Fountainstown Beach.

"A search and rescue operation was launched involving the Coast Guard, RNLI, Fire Services, Customs, Mallow River Rescue and Garda Units from Crosshaven and Carrigaline Garda stations.

"At approximately 7:45pm, the body of the child was removed from the water by emergency services and pronounced deceased.

"The body of the child will be removed from the scene and taken to Cork University Hospital where a post mortem will take place.

"The Coroner has been notified."

The passing of the little girl comes in the wake of a number of deaths in the sea in Cork in recent weeks. 

Fourteen year old Jack O'Sullivan died on August 24th last after he got in to difficulty while swimming with friends at Passage West on Cork's Lower Harbour.

Jack had been due to go in to second year at Coláiste Éamann Rís at St Patrick's Road in Cork city. He was described at his funeral as being a charming and friendly young man who radiated joy.

Meanwhile, on August 20th Ivan Chittenden (64) from Toronto, Canada and Brendan Wall (45) of Cardrath, Co Meath died in separate incidents during the swim section of the Ironman event in Youghal, Co Cork.