Coast Guard continue search off Donegal coast with person missing from UK Naval vessel

James Cox

The Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Malin Head is coordinating a search for a missing crew member following a distress alert from a UK Naval support vessel just before 9am this morning.

The missing crew member on board was last seen at approximately 10.30pm last night. The vessel was located north of Tory Island when the alert was raised.

Malin Head Coast Guard are coordinating a search for the missing crew member in the sea off the northwest coast between Tory Island, Co Donegal and Eagle Island, Co Mayo.

The search from the air is being conducted by the Coast Guard’s fixed wing plane, Rescue 120F based in Shannon Airport, Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 118, based in Sligo and the Irish Air Corps plane, CASA 284.

A search is also being coordinated at sea by the UK Naval support vessel and three RNLI all weather lifeboats based at Ballyglass, Arranmore Island and Lough Swilly. Other vessels of opportunity are also involved in the search.

Air assets from the Irish Coast Guard, all weather life boats, assets from Irish Air Corps, Irish Naval Service, and the UK’s Royal Navy and Air Force will continue to search the area overnight, and will continue to monitor weather and search conditions.