Photographer drowns after falling from rocks in Co Donegal
A photographer has died after falling from rocks in the vicinity of Fanad lighthouse, Co Donegal.
The man, believed to be from the North and aged in his 60s, had been taking photographs to the west of the lighthouse at around 2.45pm when he lost his footing and fell into a narrow gully.
"This afternoon Malin Coast Guard received a call of a male who had fallen over the wall at Fanad Head and into the sea," the Irish Coast Guard said in a statement.
A major rescue operation was launched involving the R118 Sligo Coast Guard helicopter, the Lough Swilly lifeboat and Mulroy Coast Guard rescue boat.
A spokesperson for the Marine Rescue Sub Centre based a Malin Head said that conditions in the area had been poor at the time.
"There was a gale force north-westerly wind blowing at the time and the area was a maelstrom of white water," the spokesperson said.
Two fishing vessels also responded to a distress call but were unable to reach the area due to the conditions.
The casualty was recovered by the Mulroy Coast Guard boat and airlifted in a critical condition by R118 to Letterkenny hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
