Farmer (82) fell off cliff trying to rescue calf

AN ELDERLY farmer was killed when he toppled over a cliff while bravely trying to rescue a stranded calf.

Anthony O’Sullivan (82) died when a rope snapped while he was trying to recover the animal with his west Cork neighbours. Coroner Frank O’Connell told a Bantry inquest that it was “a horrible tragedy”.

The revelation came as a west Cork Coroner’s inquest returned a verdict of accidental death for the father of two on October 7 last.

Mr O’Sullivan, from Gortnahig, Allihies, Beara, Co Cork, died despite desperate efforts by paramedics and members of the Castletownbere Coast and Cliff Rescue group to help him.

He had suffered catastrophic head injuries including a fractured skull when the rope being used to winch the calf to the top of the cliff suddenly snapped. Mr O’Sullivan, having lost his footing, toppled over the cliff edge.

The fatal accident occurred when Mr O’Sullivan became aware that a calf was stranded on a beach at the foot of a 34-metre high cliff.

During the rescue operation, Mr O’Sullivan lost his balance and fell over the cliff edge.

The pensioner suffered catastrophic head injuries when he landed on rocks at the bottom of the cliff.