Culture
17 May 23

Missing 26-year-old tourist from Sligo has been found dead in Switzerland

GoFundMe: Justin Flannery

“Thanks to all for your generosity, kindness and support both financial and emotional during this difficult time...The family and I request you to respect our privacy during this difficult time."

The body of missing Irish tourist, Justin Flannery, has been located in a Swiss river. The 26-year-old, who was reported missing over the weekend, was last seen on May 12th in Lauterbrunnen- a village in the Swiss Alps, south of the city of Bern.

Local police confirmed that Flannery's body was located on Monday evening, in the Lütschine river, following extensive search efforts. The region’s public prosecutor is due to investigate the Sligo tourist’s cause of death.

Set up to aid the search operation, a GoFundMe page, operated by Flannery’s twin brother, Jonathan, has written that he believes his brother was swept away by the river.

“Police search team of 10 persons have searched and completed the river by foot, water and drone. They have advised to be very careful as the water has a strong current and is extremely cold,” Jonathan updated well-wishers, writing on the page.

“The helicopter is not an option as it would not be appropriate due to the location trees etc. The only option we have is to hire local kayak and/or rafting teams to get onto the water ourselves. Or to pay the kayak people to go out by themselves.”

Since then, Jonathan has updated the page with news of Justin’s discovery, “Thanks to all for your generosity, kindness and support both financial and emotional during this difficult time. Justin has been found. We are currently organising the logistics of getting him home to rest. We will update everyone regarding the funeral arrangements.”

“The family and I request you to respect our privacy during this difficult time,” the update continued.

The campaign page has raised over €60,000 for a scanning device to search the lake. Any further donations made will be directed to the Kevin Bell Trust, which “aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body (bodies) of loved one(s) who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland.”

Donations via Justin’s GoFundMe page to the Trust can be made here.