Funeral details announced for heroic man who died trying to rescue swimmers at Cork beach

Funeral details have been announced for the man who died after heroically running into the sea when he went to aid a number of young people at Inch Beach, Co Cork.

Stephen O’Callaghan, 55, died after he got into difficulty in the sea on Friday afternoon at Inch Beach, near Roches Point in Co Cork.

Mr O’Callaghan was from Ashburton Hill, Montenotte in Cork.

A requiem mass will take place in O’Connor Bros Funeral Home, North Gate Bridge on Wednesday at 1pm. His funeral will take at St Finbarr’s Cemetery.

Family have asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the RNLI.

Mr Callaghan’s brother, Emmet O’Callaghan paid tribute to his brother who he described as a “hero in the truest sense of the word”.

“My brother Stephen unfortunately lost his life last Friday saving 4 children from drowning at Inch Beach in Cork. A hero in the truest sense of the word who will be missed terribly by all who loved him.

“Never miss an opportunity to tell those people in your life what they mean to you and that you love them. God Speed Brother and will see you soon,” he paid in tribute on LinkedIn.

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Stephen’s mother, Kathleen O’Callaghan also paid tribute to her son on social media.

“This is my son Stephen O'Callaghan who lost his life in saving two young boys. May God and his mother Mary watch over you  Stephen, I Love you. Your broken-hearted mother,” Ms O’Callaghan wrote in tribute.

The Irish Coastguard in Valentia, Co Kerry received a notification that five people had got in to difficulty in the water off Inch Beach in Inch at 3pm on Friday, August 23.

Four people were rescued from the water. The man who rushed in to the sea in aid of the swimmers was taken from the water in a serious condition. He was tended to by paramedics at the beach.

After being transferred to Cork University Hospital by ambulance, he sadly passed away.