Search as woman falls into river

RESCUE services were last night searching for a woman who fell into the River Lee shortly before 9pm.

Fire crews received a call at 8.55pm to say that the woman had fallen into the river at Sullivan’s Quay.

According to Adrian Spillet of Cork city fire brigade members of the public had tried to throw a buoyancy aid to her as she was being carried under Parliament Bridge.

However, when they crossed the bridge they lost sight of her as she went under the water.

By that stage four units of Cork City Fire Brigade had arrived on scene and along with members of the Coastguard and RNLI, spread themselves the length of the bank between Parliament Bridge and Parnell Bridge.

They shone high-powered torches across the span of the river in the hope of spotting the woman.

After more than an hour and still without any success, a coastguard vessel arrived on scene at 10pm and motored the length of the search area.

At the time of going to press, there was still no sign. It was hoped low tide at 1.30am this morning might help in locating the woman.