Overnight Search Operation in Kinsale Stood Down After Reports of Person in Water

A major search and rescue operation was launched in Kinsale late last night following reports of a person entering the River Bandon.

At approximately 11.30pm, Cork Safety Alerts received reports of an incident near the river in Kinsale. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115 from Shannon, was tasked to the scene along with the Kinsale RNLI lifeboat and local Coast Guard units.

Rescue 115 later confirmed the tasking on their official Facebook page, stating:

Rescue 115:

"TASKING UPDATE:

RESCUE115 is now safely back at Shannon after tasking to Kinsale, tasked along with RNLI Kinsale Lifeboat, assistance provided & RESCUE115 stood down to RTB Shannon."

Local residents also reported significant search activity in the town and along the waterfront. According to a post on the Kinsale Notice Board, there had initially been reports of someone jumping from Gully Bridge, though later information suggested the incident may have been closer to Black’s Brewery.

John O’Mahony wrote on the Kinsale Notice Board:

"There was a report of someone jumping over the wall at Gully Bridge, so an extensive search took place. Only later in the night the report was that it was over the wall at Black’s Brewery. We were stood down at 1am this morning. So we are happy no one was in the water. Thank you to Coast Guard and Coast Guard helicopter for massive support in search."

The search was called off shortly after 1am when it was confirmed that no one was missing or in the water.

Flight tracking data shows the Irish Coast Guard helicopter EI-IRO (callsign Rescue 115) carrying out search patterns over the River Bandon during the operation.

Authorities have not confirmed the exact nature of the initial report, but emergency services have since stood down.