Young fisherman was found just days before his 24th birthday

BY JACKIE KEOGH

EVERYONE who knew Kodie Healy said he was not only hardworking but passionate about fishing to the point that he, at the age of 23, had already invested in the industry.

The young West Cork fisherman who lost his life in Dunmanus Bay was laid to rest this week  – two days after he would have celebrated his 24th birthday.

Dunmanus Bay was, in a sense, Kodie’s backyard, because where he lived – at the family home at Cashelane, Durrus, which is in the parish of Goleen – he had views looking out over the bay.

Kodie had gone lobster potting on Wednesday, October 9th and when he didn’t return that evening, the alarm was raised and a five-day search ensued. 

It was on Sunday, shortly after 4pm, that two of the 30-strong dive team located the remains of the young fisherman in 11 metres of water at the northern side of Carbery Island in Dunmanus Bay.

The intensive five-day search involved overhead searches by the Coast Guard helicopter crews and private planes; land-based searches by the Coast Guard, Civil Defence, and countless volunteers, who combed the shoreline; as well as underwater searches by various dive teams.

In addition, to the launch of search boats by Civil Defence, Coast Guard and RNLI crews, the fishing community also came out in huge numbers to lend their support, with trawlers lined out across the bay to aid in the search. 

When the body of the young fisherman was recovered on Sunday afternoon, naval personnel and the gardaí brought his body ashore and he was taken to CUH, where a post mortem was carried out.

Kodie is survived by his heartbroken parents, John Paul and Samantha, and siblings Patrick, Finnian, Suannie and Eden.

On Thursday, October 17th a requiem mass was organised for Kodie at the Church of the Seven Sacraments in Lowertown, Schull, with burial afterwards at Schull Cemetery.

A friend of the family said the loss they are experiencing is very great indeed. He said: ‘Kodie was a genuinely lovely fellow.’ He also noted that the Healy family are very private and said: ‘That needs to be respected.’

Bantry-based Supt Declan O’Sullivan paid tribute to everyone, including all the volunteers, and the huge numbers of emergency service personnel who supported the family in their time of need.