Cork South Civil Defence – River Bandon Search – November 2011

17 November 2011

Cork South Civil Defence was activated by Gardaí at Bandon Garda Station at 12:30pm on Monday 14^thNovember 2011 to assist in the search for a missing person on the Bandon River. A Civil Defence boat was launched at Bandon Bridge at 2.00pm. A search on both sides of the river bank also commenced at this time. In the region of 20 volunteers were involved and a thorough search was conducted until nightfall at approximately 5.00pm. The Gardai requested assistance in continuing the search on the following morning Tuesday 15^th November 2011. 

Up to 20 volunteers were on duty at 8:30am on Tuesday morning 15^th November. The incident control unit was set up at Bandon Garda station. Boat units from West Cork Civil Defence and Cork City Civil Defence also assisted in the search. Volunteers were divided into teams which also included members of the Gardai. It was decided to conduct the search from Bandon Bridge down river to Innishannon. Each land based team was given a designated stretch of the river bank to search. The boats conducted a sweep of the river assisted by Garda kayakers.

At approximately 11:30am one of the Civil Defence boat units discovered the body of a man approximately 1km from Bandon Bridge. The Garda in control was contacted and the area was subsequently sealed off by the Gardai while the necessary arrangements were made for the removal of the body. The units conducting the river bank search were immediately stood down and told to return to base. The boat unit was stood down at approximately 1.30pm. 

A full debriefing was conducted and the Gardai expressed their sincere gratitude to all the Civil Defence volunteers who were vital to the operation of the search.

 

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