THE BODY OF an eight-year-old girl has been recovered from the water off the coast in Co Cork after a search and rescue operation.

The alarm was raised in Fountainstown this afternoon at around 4.30pm.

Her body was recovered at around 7.45pm following an extensive search operation that involved garda Units from Crosshaven and Carrigaline stations, as well as the Coast Guard, RNLI, Fire Services, Customs and Mallow Search and Rescue.

A garda spokesperson said a post mortem will take place at Cork University Hospital and the Coroner has been notified.

The eight-year-old girl’s passing comes in the wake of a number of deaths in the sea in Cork in recent weeks.

Fourteen-year-old Jack O’Sullivan died on 24 August after he got in to difficulty while swimming with friends at Passage West on Cork’s Lower Harbour. 

Jack had been due to go in to second year at Colaiste Eamann Ris at St Patrick’s Road in Cork city.

He was described at his funeral as being a charming and friendly young man who radiated joy.

Meanwhile, on 20 August, Ivan Chittenden (64) from Toronto, Canada and Brendan Wall (45) of Cardrath, Co Meath died in separate incidents during the swim section of the Ironman event in Youghal, Co Cork.

-With additional reporting from Olivia Kelleher