Two young children have been pulled alive from the River Lee in Cork after the vehicle in which they were travelling entered the water on Friday night.
The body of a woman was recovered from the submerged car at about 12.30am on Saturday morning. Her remains were taken to Cork University Hospital where a post-mortem is expected to take place over the weekend.
It is understood the children are aged 10 and 11 years.
The circumstances of the incident are not yet known, but the vehicle entered the river at Kennedy Quay in Cork city at approximately 8.45pm.
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Specialist divers attended the scene shortly after the incident was reported.
“Two children were recovered from the water and are currently receiving treatment at Cork University Hospital for non-life threatening injuries,” gardaí confirmed shortly afterwards.
It is understood that a number of people who were at the quay and spotted the car going into the water quickly raised the alarm.
A major response followed in which members of An Garda Síochána, paramedics and Cork City Fire Brigade were assisted in their efforts by the Coastguard 117 helicopter from Waterford, representatives of the Naval Service and volunteers from a local missing persons charity.
The area was quickly cordoned off to facilitate the search and rescue operation. A Garda investigation into the full circumstances of the incident is underway.
Footage quickly emerged on social media which showed the helicopter hovering in what appeared to be reasonably light conditions at around sunset.
“Gardaí are investigating all the circumstances of an incident where a vehicle entered the River Lee at Kennedy Quay, Cork City,” a garda spokesman said.
“Two children were recovered from the water and are currently receiving treatment at Cork University Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. An Garda Síochána remain at the scene and are awaiting support from specialist services to conduct further examinations of the vehicle.
“No further information is available at this time.”
