A major search operation is underway off the northwest coast of Ireland after a UK Navy crew member was reported missing from a naval support vessel. The alarm was raised early on Saturday morning when the Irish Coast Guard received a distress call.
The Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Malin Head was alerted just before 9am. The missing crew member, from a UK Naval support vessel, was last seen at approximately 10.30pm the previous night. The vessel was located north of Tory Island at the time.
Malin Head Coast Guard is coordinating the search in the waters between Tory Island, County Donegal, and Eagle Island, County Mayo. Multiple agencies are involved, including the Irish Coast Guard, the Irish Air Corps, the RNLI, and the naval vessel itself.
Airborne assets deployed include the Coast Guard’s fixed-wing plane Rescue 120F from Shannon Airport, Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 from Sligo, and the Irish Air Corps plane CASA 284. At sea, the UK Naval support vessel is participating alongside three RNLI all-weather lifeboats from Ballyglass, Arranmore Island, and Lough Swilly, with other vessels also assisting.
“Other vessels of opportunity are also involved in the search,” an Irish Coast Guard statement said.
