Search underway for person missing off Donegal coast

MALIN Head Coast Guard are co-ordinating a search for a person reported missing from a vessel off the north west coast.

The alarm was raised after the vessel was located off Tory Island.

A multi-agency operation is underway.

The Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Malin Head received a distress alert from a UK naval support vessel just before 9am this morning.

The alert was for a missing crew member on board, last seen at approximately 10.30pm last night.

The vessel was located north of Tory Island when the alert was raised.

The search for the missing crew member is taking place off the north west coast between Tory Island and Eagle Island in Mayo.

The search involves 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 co-ordinated at sea by the UK Naval support vessel and three RNLI all weather lifeboats based at Ballyglass, Arranmore Island and Lough Swilly.