Body of kayaker found off Co Waterford coast

Sarah Slater

A body has been recovered off the coast of County Waterford in the search for a missing kayaker.

A man in his 60s had been reported missing yesterday after he left Helvick Head at around at 11:40am.

Multiple units of the Coastguard, as well as the R117 helicopter, had been involved in the search operation, which was launched yesterday afternoon.

The kayaker left the Helvick Head area at 11.40am and has not been heard from or seen since.

The Irish Coast Guard was tasked to search the area at 5.30pm on Monday and searches are focusing along the Clonea area of the coastline.

Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117, the LÉ Aoibhin, Helvick Lifeboat, Bonmahon Coast Guard, and the Ardmore Coast.

The man’s body has been brought to a pier in Dungarvan where he will be transferred to University Hospital Waterford for a post mortem examination which will be carried out in the coming days.

A Department of Transport spokesperson confirmed that the naval vessel LÉ Aoibhinn is on site coordinating the search and that the man’s body has been recovered.