THE COAST Guard has recovered the body of a Co Wexford man in the water near Cullenstown Beach yesterday morning, five years after the death of his brother in similar circumstances.
It is understood that Michael O’Connor, in his 50s, went fishing alone in a small boat on Monday evening or early yesterday morning.
Mr O’Connor was a married father of three with an address at Loch, Duncormick, near Cullenstown Beach. An unoccupied vehicle, thought to belong to Mr O’Connor, was found parked up on the waterfront.
His brother, Ronnie O’Connor (44), from Kilag, Duncormick, died in similar circumstances in August 2005.
Coast Guard helicopter pilot Capt Barry O’Connor said: “We went to Cullenstown; we went further on and I saw an overturned boat. The winchman went down to the overturned boat.” A body was spotted “about three-quarters of a mile up-river”.
“We’ve no idea as to what happened but he was wearing a lifejacket,” Capt O’Connor added
The body was winched on board and taken to Waterford Regional Hospital for a postmortem examination.
“The boat was a rowing boat about 10 feet in length,” said Capt O’Connor.
A local RNLI vessel brought the fishing boat ashore.
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