THE BODY of a 13-year-old Polish boy who drowned while fishing with his father 10-days ago was yesterday recovered by searchers from the sea off west Cork near where searchers found their fishing gear.
Matteus Latek had gone fishing with his father Piotr (40) at Cod’s Head between Allihies and Eyries on the Beara Peninsula on Sunday, July 12th. When they failed to return home the alarm was raised and a search operation was launched.
Naval Service divers recovered the body of Mr Latek on Wednesday, July 15th, near where gardaí and searchers had found their fishing gear on a rocky foreshore at Cod’s Head. But despite more than 30 dives, no trace was found of young Matteus.
But in the morning at about 9.40am, searchers on board the Derrynane Inshore Rescue boat spotted a body in the water near where Mr Latek’s body had been retrieved. They recovered the remains which were brought to Cork University hospital.
Supt Liam Horgan of Bantry Garda station, who was heading up the land operation, confirmed that the body had been positively identified at the morgue at the Cork hospital in the afternoon as being that of Matteus Latek.
Supt Horgan explained that the searchers had spoken to the local fishermen and boatmen in the area about the pattern of tides and currents around Cod’s Head. Having spoken to them they were satisfied that the body was likely to have remained in the area.
Supt Horgan paid tribute to all those involved in the search operation which was co-ordinated by the Irish Coast Guard Valentia Marine Rescue Centre and which included Derrynane Inshore Rescue, Castletownbere Inshore Rescue and Goleen Cliff and Coast Rescue.
Mr Latek had worked as a baker at the Breadcrumb Bakery in Kenmare where his employer, Manuela Goeb, set up a special fund to raise money to cover the cost of bringing their bodies back to Poland for burial.
Ms Goeb told The Irish Times: "The response from people has been fantastic. We've raised over €12,200 with people from all over the country contacting us to make donations. People really have been very generous and very supportive." Ms Goeb said anyone who wishes to donate towards the costs can do so by making a lodgement to the Piotr and Matteus Fund at Bank of Ireland, Kenmare, sort code 90 57 31, account number 28414889.
