‘Friendly rivals’ united in grief for drowning victim Christopher

The section of river where 17-year-old Christopher O’Sullivan got into difficulties and later died has been used by local swimmers for generations.

Christopher, from Rathmore, Co Kerry, dived into the River Blackwater, which is 4m deep in places, and failed to resurface.

His friends ran from the scene at Farrankeale, near Knocknagree, North-West Cork, to a nearby house, and some people came back with them to look for Christopher. He was pulled from the water over 25 minutes after he had disappeared.