Man, 90, who died in Fermoy saved another life moments before being struck by car

A Garda source described the incident as a “horrendous tragedy”. Picture: Larry Cummins

The 90-year-old man killed by a car in a busy supermarket car park in Fermoy saved a second person’s life by pushing her out of the way of the oncoming car.

The man was named locally as Cal O’Keeffe, a retired teacher and farmer from Glanworth Road, Ballyhooly. He was pronounced dead at the scene in Riordan’s SuperValu car park on Courthouse Road in Fermoy shortly after being struck by a car at about 11.15am on Friday morning. The driver of the car was also a man in his 90s. He was treated at the scene.

A woman who was also struck by the car was airlifted by helicopter to Cork University Hospital with serious injuries. She is in her 60s, according to gardaí. It is understood she and the driver are also from the Fermoy locality.

Local gardaí said the incident was a “horrendous tragedy”.

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.

Mr O'Keeffe is survived by his wife and their four children. He was well-known in the locality, having been a primary teacher as well as a farmer. His brother, John, died in August.

Former Cork County Mayor Cllr Frank O’Flynn knew Mr O’Keeffe and offered his sympathies to his family. He said his thoughts and prayers were with the O’Keeffe family and with the woman who was injured, and the driver.

Fine Gael councillor Noel McCarthy, who runs a business in Fermoy, said the town was shocked by the incident.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward, particularly any pedestrians who were in the environs of Courthouse Road between 10.45am and 11.30am on Friday or anyone with dashcam footage to contact Fermoy Garda Station at 025 82100, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.