Distress alert from UK Naval vessel sparks major search operation off Irish coastline

A major multi-agency search operation is underway off the north west coast after a person was reported as missing from a UK Naval support vessel.

According to the Irish Coast Guard, which is co-ordinating the search operation, the alarm was raised at around 9am on Saturday and the vessel was subsequently located north of Tory Island, off the Donegal coast.

"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 (on Saturday). The alert was for a missing crew member on board, last seen at approximately 10:30pm on Friday.

The search operation is focussed on area of sea between Tory Island, County Donegal and Eagle Island off the Mayo coast.

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

Three RNLI all-weather lifeboats, from Ballyglass, Arranmore Island and Lough Swilly, are assisting the UK Naval support vessel along with other civilian vessels which are in the area.