Several agencies are working hard in very cold conditions

18:51, 22 Dec 2025Updated 19:11, 22 Dec 2025

Crosshaven Coast Guard searching the lower harbour area this evening(Image: Crosshaven Coast Guard)

A multi-agency search has been underway in Cork city since Thursday, December 18 after reports of a person entering the River Lee in the early hours.

The search – which has seen co-operation between Cork City Missing Persons volunteers, Crosshaven Coast Guard, Mallow Search and Rescue, Guileen Coast Guard and An Garda Síochána – has continued along the river, Lough Mahon and the wider Cork Harbour area for four days. This evening, Crosshaven Coast Guard confirmed that nothing has yet been found but that “the search will continue at low water tomorrow” – even as conditions are set to turn misty and drizzly in the morning with even colder weather in the days ahead.

The initial callout on Thursday morning described a person entering the river close to Brian Boru Bridge. The Crosshaven crew rushed to the scene with boat and land search teams, conducting a search alongside the Cork City Fire Brigade, National Ambulance Service (NAS) and An Garda Síochána. Since then, the days-long search has been witnessed by Christmas shoppers and passersby on the busy riverside.

The coast guard team in Cork city(Image: Crosshaven Coast Guard)

Volunteers from Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery also arrived on the scene with boat crews, while divers with SONAR equipment scanned the area. Mallow Search and Rescue also joined the search with boat crews, divers and scanning efforts.

On Saturday, the Guileen Coast Guard Drone Team lent their assistance, searching from Passage West to Cork city centre and back, covering the entirety of Lough Mahon. The search continued yesterday and today, and is set to continue tomorrow morning.

Crosshaven Coast Guard reminded the public: “Remember, if you see someone in difficulty or think the maybe in difficulty immediately dial 112/999 and ask for the Irish Coast Guard.”

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