AN ELDERLY CYCLIST who was found unresponsive on the side of the road in Cobh, Co Cork yesterday and died in hospital has been named locally as 77-year-old Michael Kavanagh.

A pedestrian spotted Mr Kavanagh lying on a footpath on the outskirts of Cobh yesterday morning and raised the alarm.

Paramedics tended to the injured man and he was subsequently removed to Cork University Hospital. Mr Kavanagh, who was from Elton Estate in Cobh, died in hospital.

He was wearing a helmet when the passer by came across him and there was no sign of damage to the bike. It is thought that he fell from his bike at around 8:30am yesterday. 

A postmortem examination is due to be carried out at the hospital in order to determine exactly what happened to Mr Kavanagh.  It is understood that the dead man was a retired fitter.

Gardaí called in the services of a forensic collision investigator and the road was closed off for a period on Saturday with diversions being put in place.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí attended the scene of a fatal road traffic incident that occurred at approximately 8:30am on Saturday 6 July at Ballywilliam, Cobh, Co Cork.

“A male pedal cyclist, aged in his 70s, was found on the side of the road and taken to Cork University Hospital in a serious condition. He has since been pronounced deceased.

“A post-mortem examination will be arranged and this will determine the course of the Garda investigation. The road was closed for a time but has since re-opened.”