Schoolboy, 14, who died after he got into difficulty swimming with pals in Cork named as tributes pour in

A TEENAGE schoolboy has died after going swimming with pals in Co Cork.

The incident happened in Passage West, in Cork Harbour, earlier this afternoon.

The boy has been named as second-year Colaiste Eamann Ris student Jack O'Sullivan, of Deerpark off Friars Walk in Cork city centre.

A group of young people were enjoying a swim off the boat pontoon in Passage West this afternoon.

It’s understood as they were jumping in off the man made mini-marina, one of the boys disappeared under the water.

A woman living in one of the apartments, who saw the boys were having problems, ran out and jumped into the sea but was unable to locate the distressed boy.

The 14-year-old boy had arrived earlier with a group of friends by bus and gained access to the pontoon, which is owned by Cork County Council.

It’s understood the lock on the gate was broken giving youngsters access to the man made structure which was put in place for boats to dock at.

It's understood the boy got into difficulty in the water.

His pals made frantic efforts to locate him and when unsuccessful, the emergency services were contacted.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised at around 2pm.

No children were in the water at the time emergency services arrived.

A search was conducted by Coast Guard's Waterford-based helicopter Rescue 117, Crosshaven Coast Guard unit, Crosshaven RNLI, Gardaí, HSE paramedics and Cork Fire Brigade.

Divers searched the waters within a few hundred meters of the pontoon.