A man who died after his vehicle left the roadway and entered a river in Co Cork during heavy rainfall on Friday has been identified as 34-year-old Joice Thomas.
Mr Thomas, originally from Kambammettu in Kerala, India, was living in Ballynoe, Co Cork, with his wife Ruby Kuriakose and their two children. The family relocated to Ireland last year, reports RTE.
Mr Thomas lost his life after his car entered the water near the Conna Road, R628.
It is believed he was travelling home from his job at a nursing home in Leamlara when the incident happened shortly after 10pm on Friday, reports RTE.
The alarm was raised by a member of the public just before 10am yesterday after they noticed a car in the River Bride close to the Conna Road.
Mr Thomas was the only person in the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene, which was attended by gardaà and emergency services, reports RTE.
Friends of Mr Thomas have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support his family and to help cover the cost of repatriating his body to India for burial.
According to the GoFundMe page, Mr Thomas had started working as a kitchen assistant at Ballincurrig Care Centre in Leamlara, Co Cork, only two months ago, reports RTE.
TheLiberal.ie won’t quit
Please support us with a small donation on PayPal!
The page explains that when he failed to return home from work on Friday, his friends immediately contacted gardaà and a large-scale search operation was initiated.
Mr Thomas’s car was eventually located after 14 hours of searching, reports RTE.
“Sadly, Joice passed away in this tragic incident, leaving behind his grieving wife, young children, family, and friends who are devastated by this sudden and heartbreaking loss,” the GoFundMe page said, reports RTE.
Meanwhile, Conna Community Council shared a message on social media expressing condolences to the deceased’s family on behalf of the local community.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of a local man following a car accident,” it said, reports RTE.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with his family, friends and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time,” reports RTE.
The Ballynoe Community Facebook page also offered its “deepest sympathy” to Mr Thomas’s family and friends, while urging any witnesses to the incident to come forward, reports RTE.
Mr Thomas’s body has been taken to Cork University Hospital where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.
A technical inspection of the scene was conducted by Garda Forensic Collision investigators, reports RTE.
Gardaà are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them.
Road users who were travelling on the Conna Road R628 between 10pm on Friday and 10am yesterday and who may have camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, are being asked to provide this material to investigators, reports RTE.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Fermoy Garda Station on 025-82100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
