A post-mortem examination is due to take place later on the body of a woman found in Co Cork.

Her remains were discovered inside a car that was on fire in the Doneraile area on Thursday afternoon at around 4.30pm.

The woman is believed to be aged in her 70s.

A search of the area was carried out and a man, believed to be in his 60s, was rescued by Gardaí from a nearby river.

This man is currently receiving medical treatment in Cork University Hospital (CUH).

The scene  was preserved and a technical examination is being carried out by the Garda Technical Bureau.

The Office of the State Pathologist has been informed and a post mortem is to be carried out.

Gardaí say the results of this will determine the course of the investigation.

It is understood the man and woman were known to each other, but not related.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who was in the Doneraile area between 3.00pm and 5.00pm on Thursday - particularly anyone with mobile phone footage or dashcam footage - to contact Fermoy Garda station on 025-82100 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666-111.

Ralph Reigel, southern correspondent with the Irish Independent, explained the events to Newstalk Breakfast.

"A person was out walking and they saw a Dacia car on fire at a remote woodland outside Doneraile.

"They raised the alarm [and] Gardaí and fire brigade units were on the scene quite quickly.

"The fire was very well-established, the car was virtually gutted, and to their horror when they were examining the car they realised that there was a body inside".

"That's understood to be the body of a woman in her 70s, she's believed to be from the north Cork area".

"There was a man rescued from the River Awbeg a couple of kilometers away.

"That man is in his 60s, he was treated for hypothermia and for respiratory issues having been removed from the water".

"Gardaí are hoping that he will be well enough within the next day or so that he'll be able to have a chat with them about the general circumstances of what happened".