Mum of Luke Hyde who drowned while swimming in the Lee ‘disgusted' by people filming incident

Sunday World

02-05-2025

I don't know if these people know the heartache and the suffering we in his family are going through'
The devastated mother of Luke Hyde who drowned while swimming in the River Lee has expressed her disgust at those people who filmed the incident.
Luke had got into difficulty while swimming in the Lee near St Mary's Church in Cork city centre on Wednesday evening.
The 33-year-old, from Cork's northside, entered the north channel of the river from Pope's Quay with a friend at around 6.45pm to try to swim to Kyrl's Quay.
The first man successfully made it across the channel, however Luke got into difficulty as he neared the quay wall and disappeared beneath the surface of the water, which was rising towards high tide at 8.20pm.
Two divers, using a sonar scanner, later recovered the body of the swimmer not far from where he had gone underwater.
Emergency service officials hit out after it emerged that the drowning and the recovery of the man's remains had been recorded by some onlookers.
Elizabeth Hyde (76) said she was "disgusted" as she questioned why someone would stand by and film Luke's tragic death rather than do something to save him.
Luke Hyde died in the tragedy
Today's News in 90 Seconds - Friday May 2
Speaking to Neil Prendeville on Cork's Red FM on Friday, she said: 'It was like a circus. Them watching my son drown instead of trying to help him."
'I don't think I can get through this,' she added. 'This is my second son [to die] in five years. The first boy Brian died suddenly. He was Luke's older brother. He died in his sleep. My Luke — my baby. He was the youngest.
'I heard you talking this morning about what the people were doing there watching my son drown instead of trying to help him. I don't know if these people know the heartache and the suffering we in his family are going through.
'I don't know how I am going to get through it the second time. I am disgusted. I don't think there is even a word to describe it. It will never leave me. And my son being brought up. I will never ever forget it.
'I want people to know that I am his mother and my baby was nearly 34 years old. My whole body is trembling. I couldn't go to bed last night.'
Elizabeth described Luke as the most 'pleasant young fella' who ever lived.
She said he fought an alcohol problem but was doing well and had started a job in a supermarket on the Douglas Road in Cork last week.
'I was always extremely worried about him. I would be phoning him saying 'where are you Luke?' If they live to be a hundred and you are 200 they are your child.
'I was sitting downstairs watching the television last Wednesday night and I heard the helicopter going up and down the river. I thought God help us who are they looking for? I thought 'I hope they find the person.' Little did I know that it was my own son.'
Ms Hyde said she rang her son's phone on the day of the tragedy and when a garda answered, she ran down Shandon Street to the scene of the incident.
"When I got down, they were putting him into the ambulance and I saw the crowds, I didn't know what was going on."
She said another son who was there tried to shield her from the scene but was adamant she wanted to hold her son one last time saying: "I need to hold my boy, I need to see him."
Ms Hyde said: "I don't know what his last thought or words were. I was thinking, 'did he call my name?'"
She said she hoped those who filmed the tragedy were listening to a "broken-hearted mother".
Luke would have turned 34 next month. Funeral arrangement will be finalised in the coming days.