Fears for teen lost in Lee
The search was continuing late last night for the youth, who got into difficulty along with a teenage girl as they tried to swim to a pontoon in the river between Daly’s Bridge and Fitzgerald’s Park at 8.30pm.
The girl got back to the river bank where she was helped ashore by a garda on duty near the scene when the alarm was raised. She was highly distressed and taken to hospital.
The boy is believed to be from the Fairhill area of the city’s northside.
Two units of Cork City Fire Brigade were still at the scene late last night, as well as the service’s water rescue boats assisted by a Coastguard search and rescue helicopter using heat-seeking equipment, an RNLI lifeboat and the Naval Service sub-aqua unit.
Water levels on the river were high as the tide upriver from the mouth of the Lee in Cork harbour was starting to turn when the tragedy happened.
Daly’s Bridge, known as the Shakey Bridge, is a popular swimming spot for youngsters. It spans the river’s north channel, linking Sunday’s Well and Fitzgerald’s Park.
