UK navy crew member missing off Donegal coast
The boat was near Tory Island, County Donegal
- Published
A multi-agency search is under way off the coast of the Republic of Ireland for a missing UK navy crew member.
The Irish Department of Transport (DfT) said in a statement that the crew member was last seen at about 22:30 (local time) on Friday when the boat was near Tory Island, County Donegal.
It said the Irish Coast Guard received a distress call from a UK naval support vessel before 09:00 on Saturday.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the Royal Navy is assisting in the search and rescue operation to find an individual from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
The Irish Coast Guard, the Irish Air Corps, the RNLI, the naval vessel and others are involved in the search.
A spokesperson for the DfT said the Malin Head Coast Guard is co-ordinating the search off the northwest coast between Tory Island, and Eagle Island in County 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," they continued.
The UK Naval support vessel and three RNLI all weather lifeboats based at Ballyglass, Arranmore Island and Lough Swilly, alongside other vessels are also involved in the sea search.