Man drowned in River Lee

A MAN walking his new dog on the banks of the River Lee fell in and drowned, an inquest established yesterday.

Cork City Coroner’s Court heard how a passerby spotted the body of Samuel Vaughan, aged 67, from St Finbarr’s Road, Cork, floating in the river in the grounds of UCC at about 3.30pm on June 4 last.

A water rescue unit from the Cork City Fire Brigade retrieved his body. Paramedics began CPR and restored his pulse before rushing him by ambulance to the Mercy Hospital.

Medical registrar Dr Barry Kennedy said doctors worked on the casualty for three hours but he was pronounced dead at 7.30pm.

Mr Vaughan had no known family and his remains were identified by his friend, Tom Murphy.

Coroner Philip Comyn recorded a verdict of accidental death.