Gardaí in Cork said people were livestreaming the incident
Gardaí in Cork were forced to intervene with a crowd as they filmed a man drowning in the River Lee in Co. Cork.
According to reports, people were filming the man and even livestreaming the incident in Cork city on Wednesday.
Two men got into difficulty when they were swimming at Pope’s Quay.
One of the men managed to get out of the water and called for help.
Emergency services swiftly arrived at the scene of the incident, but a large crowd had already gathered.
The victim, aged in his 30s, sadly passed away at the scene.
Second officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, Victor Shine, said he arrived at the scene and there were no signs of lifebuoys in the water.
He said the man was clearly in distress, but people were filming and livestreaming him instead of helping.
He told The Irish Examiner: “This man was clearly in difficulty in the water, but we saw no signs of lifebuoys in the water when we arrived at the scene minutes after the alarm was raised.”
Members of the emergency services confirmed that people filmed the drowning incident, but they also filmed the recovery of the man’s remains.
“People today tend to video rather than render aid. But this was another level.
“I would have expected to see lifebuoys in the water, and there are some in the area, but I didn’t see any in the water, and I’m not sure if anyone attempted to throw a lifebuoy.
Public asked not to share this footage on social media.
“I would appeal to people not to share these clips and to consider the impact it might have on the man’s family or friends if they saw it.”
“You have to realise that their families or friends might see these clips and images. And in this case, the survivor might see them, and he’s going to be reliving this awful moment for the rest of his life,” he said.
The firefighter stressed that if you ever come across an incident like this, you should always first consider how you can help.
You should also always consider the individual’s right to privacy, as well as respecting the dignity of the deceased.
