Funeral of Cork man who drowned in River Lee heard of his 'loving, caring nature'

Luke Hyde died on Wednesday after getting into difficulties in the Pope's Quay area of the River Lee

Luke Hyde: His mother Lily sent her thanks to those whom tried to help him, especially the gardaí, paramedics, air corps, and fire service.

The funeral of a man who died after getting into difficulty in the river Lee last weekend heard he gave a great lesson to others by reaching out to people to help them, despite his own difficulties.

Luke Hyde, from Wolfe Tone Street in Cork City, died on Wednesday night, after he and another man went swimming in the northern channel of the River Lee at Pope’s Quay.

The 34-year-old got into difficulties and a major search and recovery operation was launched, leading to the recovery of his body.

During his funeral Mass in the North Cathedral, Fr Marius O’Reilly said: “Luke was here for a lot shorter than anyone would have expected but he was a gift to this world and we bring forward with us the memories that we have had with Luke and we thank God because Luke was unique to this world. 

"There was never anyone like him nor will there ever be anyone like him. He had something unique to contribute to this world that nobody else could." 

He said he did nor know Mr Hyde himself.

"But I have been hearing a lot about him over these last number of days and some of the things which really struck me about Luke was that he didn’t have it easy in life. He lost his father at a young age and then he lost his brother Brian and these had a big impact on him at such a young age too. 

“The thing, I suppose, which everyone seems to talk about is how gentle a person he was and that he had a loving, caring nature and I even heard how he would love the animals, even the worms, and would look after even worms, wanting to care for them. 

"That is not something you would hear about too often. [He was] very much someone as well who would reach out to people and try to help other people. He had his own troubles and difficulties but he would think of other people as well so he is a great lesson to all of us in that sense."

His mother Lily led the readings. On Friday, she had spoken of her heartbreak after people at the scene of his drowning filmed and livestreamed the incident instead of trying to help her son. The actions have also been condemned by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

During his homily, Fr O’Reilly said: “Lily asked me as well in a special way to thank those who tried to help Luke, especially the gardaí, the paramedics, the air corps, fire service and all the people who have been so generous and so kind with their support and their words in particular.”