Former teacher (90) saved woman's life moments before he was hit by car and died

A 90-year-old man who died after being struck by a car in a supermarket car park in Co Cork has been hailed as a “hero”.

The incident took place in the SuperValu car park on Courthouse Road in Fermoy at about 11.15am on Friday.

The man has been named locally as Cal O’Keefe, a former teacher and principal.

According to The Irish Times, the 90-year-old tried to save a woman by pushing her further out of the way of the car as it reversed towards them before his death.

He was pronounced dead at the scene while the woman in her 60s, who was also struck by the car, was airlifted to Cork University Hospital.

The woman is being treated for injuries which were described by gardaí as “serious”.

The car was driven by a man, also in his 90s, who received medical attention at the scene.

The SuperValu store closed for several hours following the incident, while Garda forensics teams worked at the scene.

Witnesses who were in the car park at the time were interviewed by gardaí in a bid to establish how the incident occurred, the Irish Examiner reported.

“The people of Fermoy are shocked,” said local Fine Gael councillor Noel McCarthy, who praised emergency services for acting quickly.

“Fermoy is shocked that something like this could happen in the car park of a SuperValu. It’s such an unfortunate incident,” he said.

“It’s all over Fermoy that he’s a hero, that’s what they’re saying.”

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn, who knew Mr O’Keefe personally, described the incident as “tragic”.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very sad time,” he said.