Man remembered as a hero at inquest after saving six people at Inch Beach

Stephen O'Callaghan died after rushing into water to help families caught in rip current at Cork beach

Stephen O'Callaghan who died saving six people at Inch Beach, Co Cork, in August 2024.

 A “heroic” man died after he rushed to save the lives of six people who were struggling in the water at Inch Beach in Co Cork following a sudden and deadly rip current, an inquest has heard.

A verdict of accidental death was returned at an inquest on Monday into the death of Stephen O’Callaghan, of Ashburton Hill in Montenotte, Cork.

He died of acute respiratory failure due to drowning, having gone to the aid of four children and their respective mothers when they got caught up in a powerful rip current at the beach shortly before 3pm on August 23, 2024.

The 55-year-old saved the life of a 10-year-old boy. His nephew, Eoghan O’Callaghan, managed to bring the eight-year-old brother of the boy to safety.

Two other children, both aged 10, and two women were helped to the shore by members of the local surf club and others at the scene who had rushed to their assistance.

The mother of the two boys rescued by Stephen and his nephew said she had been at the beach that day with friends and their children. The children had gone for a surf lesson, and afterwards they and their mothers went to the sauna before going in for a swim.

The woman said: “I nor any one of us were out of our depth. The waves were choppy. It was a bright, sunny, windy day. The tide was a long way out. I was watching the kids.

"It all happened very fast. I saw [my friend] gesturing for me to come to the left. I tried, but failed. I knew we were in trouble. I was swimming, getting nowhere, and could not find my footing anymore. It was hard to hear with the noise from the wind and water.

"I shouted for help, shouting a while whilst keeping an eye on the others. A man standing not far from me (Stephen), he came to my assistance.

"I told him I was worried about [her 10-year-old]. He then went to his assistance. [Her eldest son] was the furthest away and crying. Stephen's brave actions saved his life. I was tiring and could not see everything that was happening around me.

"I remember a boy, Eoghan, going to the assistance of my youngest son. He put him on his back and rescued him to safety.” 

The woman also praised Stephen's nieces, Grainne and Niamh O’Callaghan, who were “very reassuring” when she and the other mother were in difficulty in the water.

She told coroner Frank O’Connell that Stephen and his nephew were heroic. “If it was not for the actions and bravery of Stephen, his nieces, nephew, and family, we would not have survived. We will be forever thankful for their actions.

"The Coast Guard arrived and commenced a search for Stephen. Then the emergency services arrived and took over. We stayed together, hoping Stephen would be OK.

"There is not a day goes by that i don't think of Stephen and what happened that day. He will always be in my thoughts and prayers. I will be forever thankful to him.” 

Stephen 'ran in to the danger area'

Garda Thomas Duane with Stephen O'Callaghan's brother Emmet, father John, and brother Keith after the inquest

The inquest also heard from Stephen's brother, Keith O’Callaghan, who was with their father John and Keith's daughters at the beach that day. He and Stephen were in the water with other family members when conditions deteriorated.

Mr O’Callaghan said that his brother “ran in to the danger area” to assist a child. Keith attempted to support his brother in the rescue attempt but he got in to difficulty and was rescued by a person on a surf board.

A statement from Eoghan O’Callaghan was read in to evidence. He said that his uncle was an “amazing person” who was “always ready to help anyone".

Paddy Enright, who operates a sauna at the beach, ran in to the water with two other men to assist those in difficulty in the water. He said that Stephen “died a hero” having “sacrificed his life to help others".

Garda Thomas Duane said Stephen was found face down in a gully on the rocks around half an hour after helping the families in trouble. CPR was administered and he was formally pronounced dead at 4.15pm.

Garda Duane said the body was swept on to the rocks by a “very strong rip current". He said the actions of Stephen, as well as the others, prevented an even more serious tragedy from occurring.

He confirmed to the coroner that warning signs in relation to rip currents are on display at the beach. When a rip current occurs, “you feel you are standing on nothing", he said. “People don’t understand how dangerous it is.” 

The coroner said that multiple deaths could have occurred on the day. “It’s a terrible tragedy but it could have been a lot worse.” 

Inch beach 'unpredictable'

Fergus Wall, a man who lives within 200m of the beach, told the coroner that that there was no fixed pattern to the rip currents at Inch Beach.

“It is unpredictable. It can be a different rip current every day of the week. You can swim parallel to the rip current (to get to safety) but that is easier said than done. Everyone in the water that day was pulled to the right.” 

Mr Wall said it is a “very popular beach" yet is not manned by lifeguards because of the dangers associated with rip currents.

Mr O’Connell recorded a verdict of accidental death. The coroner stated that Stephen died following a “dangerous rip current on a public beach".

He joined gardaí in extending his condolences to his family and all those impacted by the tragedy. He said the quick thinking of Stephen and others had prevented an even greater tragedy from occurring. “They were heroes who saved lives.” 

Stephen's previous heroics

Following the inquest, John O’Callaghan said that his son had prevented other people from drowning over the course of his life.

He recalled a time when Stephen saved two teenage boys from the water in Rosscarbery, West Cork.

Stephen "dragged one boy out” and then did the same for the other. “He saved their lives. But he didn’t want thanks.” 

Emmet O’Callaghan said his brother was the type of person who instinctively went to the aid of others. He recalled an incident in Kerry where Stephen had gone in to sea to save a “couple of young people who were in trouble".

He said his brother was "very much a hero on the day he died" and that “everybody did what they were supposed to do on the day". Unfortunately he lost his brother because of it, said Emmet. 

He had tried to save his brother but conditions “just became too much".

The O’Callaghan family said Stephen loved his work with Irish Customs. He also had a passion for music and mountain climbing. They donated his keyboards to a special needs school in the wake of his death.

They expressed their appreciation for Garda Thomas Duane, the emergency services, and all who assisted the family on the day their brother died.

The search and rescue operation had involved the Coast Guard units at Guileen and Crosshaven, along with the RNLI from Ballycotton and Crosshaven. Rescue Helicopter 117 from Waterford was also tasked to go to Inch Beach.