A SWIMMER who was rescued after getting into difficulty in the sea near Kinsale in Co. Cork has died.
The man, named locally as Geoffrey O’Byrne-White, took ill while swimming near Sandycove shortly after 6pm yesterday.
Mr O’Byrne-White, aged in his 60s, was spotted lifeless in the water by a passer-by and a number of other swimmers and a paddle boarder came to his assistance.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) board member and former Cityjet CEO was brought ashore, where locals administered CPR and used a defibrillator to try and resuscitate him.
He was removed from the scene by the Waterford-based Coastguard Rescue 117 helicopter to Cork University Hospital.
However, attempts to resuscitate Mr O’Byrne-White were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at CUH.
It is understood that he may have suffered a heart attack.
Mr O'Byrne-White, a respected aviation expert, had only moved back to Kinsale from Malta with his family less than a fortnight ago.
A post-morten examination is expected to be carried out later today.
