Search underway for man reported missing from yacht off Waterford coast

Sarah Slater

A search is underway for a man reported as falling overboard from a yacht off the Waterford coast.

The Coast Guard rescue helicopter 116 based out of Dublin has now joined the search operation for the man.

The rescue began when an alert was raised at about 10.40pm on Saturday by another individual who was still onboard the UK registered vessel.

The UK Coast Guard was also contacted after the person said they believed the vessel was off the coast of Swansea in Wales.

However, the Irish Coast Guard situated the vessel off the coast of Ceann Heilbhic in Co Waterford.

The yacht was travelling from Brighton to Swansea via Falmouth.

It is understood that a person has since been taken safely to shore by search and rescue teams.

Waterford-based Coast Guard rescue helicopter 117 carried out searches on Saturday night, assisted by a fixed wing aircraft from the UK, and the RNLI lifeboats from Dunmore East in Waterford and Ballycotton, Co Cork.

A spokesperson for the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) confirmed that the Coast Guard was “coordinating a search for a missing man believed to have gone overboard from a UK registered yacht 16nm South of Dunmore East in the Irish Sea.

“A 999 call was received last night by the Coast Guard Coordination centre in Dublin from the yacht requesting assistance.

"Weather conditions are calm on scene at present and MRCC Dublin continues to coordinate rescue resources in the area with Coast Guard helicopters R117, R116, a UK Coast Guard fixed wing, Dunmore Lifeboat, Kilmore Quay and Ballycotton Lifeboats involved in the search”.