The body of a young man has been recovered from a river in County Cork, Ireland, bringing to a close a nine-day search operation. Shea McCabe, from County Tyrone, had been missing since the early hours of December 18.
Major Search Operation Launched
Emergency services mounted a significant rescue effort after reports that someone had entered the water near the Brian Boru Bridge. The incident has been described by his grieving family as a 'freak accident'.
The extensive operation involved multiple agencies, including gardai, the Coast Guard, Cork City Fire Brigade, the National Ambulance Service, and volunteer groups such as Mallow Search and Rescue and Cork Sub Aqua Club. Teams meticulously searched the River Lee, Lough Mahon, and Cork Harbour areas throughout the Christmas period.
Search Concludes with Sonar Detection
The active search was officially stood down on Boxing Day. The Crosshaven Coast Guard crew confirmed their part in the operation had ended, while Mallow Search and Rescue revealed they had 'detected an image' using sonar technology, which ultimately led to the recovery.
In a statement, Crosshaven Coast Guard praised the collective effort: 'This was a huge team effort and has not stopped until we had closure. We would like to thank the countless members of the public for their support... and all the agencies involved coming together to draw this to a close as quickly and safely as possible.'
A Family's Heartbreaking Plea
Shea McCabe's family are now faced with the tragic task of bringing him home. On a GoFundMe page established to cover funeral and transportation costs from Cork to Pomeroy, they expressed their desire to 'lay him to rest with dignity and love'.
His sister, Stacey McCabe, shared the profound grief the family has endured, revealing they lost Shea's brother, Jason, in October 2023, followed by their mother just seven months later in May 2024. 'Coping with so much loss in such a short space of time has been unbearable for our family,' she wrote.
The fundraising campaign has seen an outpouring of support, with nearly £12,500 donated towards a £22,000 goal. Stacey added: 'Any donation, no matter how small, will help ease the financial pressure so our family can focus on grieving and honouring Shea’s memory.'
