Devastating news broke early on Friday morning
More photos:
THE devastating news broke before mid-day on Friday last that a man had gone missing while kayaking on Lough Yganavan near Cromane.
What made the news all the more tragic was that the missing man was the father of a 10-week-old baby. 38year-old Neilus O'connor, originally from Tralee, but living in Cromane with partner Melissa and baby Hannah, was reported missing on Friday morning by Melissa when he failed to return home after setting out on a kayaking trip at around 3am on Friday morning.
Immediately, a massive search operation got underway, co-ordinated by Killorglin Garda Station and Valentia Coast Guard. The Shannon Coast Guard helicopter was quickly on the scene and was aided in the search for the missing man by units from Knightstown Coast Guard, Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue team, the Garda Sub Aqua Unit, Mallow Sub Aqua Unit, Banna Rescue and local Civil Defence.
The prospects of finding Mr O'connor safe and well looked remote even at that early stage when search crews found his kayak and paddle washed up on the eastern shore of Lough Yganavan at approximately 11am. Family, friends, and local people maintained a vigil on the shoreline since the tragic news broke that Neilus O'connor had been reported missing, and they maintained their dignified presence through the weekend, Monday and into Tuesday, until it was reported on Tuesday afternoon that his body had been found on the opposite shore of the lake from where his kayak had been found.
- BRENDAN MCCARTHY
