Rescuers to resume search on Lough Ree for missing man
A search to locate a man missing from a fishing boat on Lough Ree is to resume in around an hour.
Two men have been rescued from the lake in Co Westmeath while a third remains missing, the RNLI has said.
A major search for the man in Lough Ree in Athlone, Co Westmeath, was abandoned last night because of fading light but is due to resume this morning.
The two men who were rescued have been taken to hospital.
The alarm was raised yesterday afternoon by a local man who saw the group setting off for Carnagh in a 15ft (4.6m) boat in gusty conditions.
Lough Ree RNLI launched a lifeboat at around 4pm and rescued a semi-conscious man who was taken to a waiting ambulance crew in Hodson Bay.
The lifeboat crew immediately returned to the scene where they found a second man in the water at 5.15pm before a full-scale search was launched for the third man.
Damien Delaney, operations manager of Lough Ree RNLI, said last night: “This was a major search and rescue operation on Lough Ree involving the RNLI, Coast Guard, Athlone Sub Aqua, Lanesborough Sub Aqua, and other local boats.
“The lifeboat crew were able to rescue two men from the water but a third remains missing.
“Our thoughts are with the men’s families this evening. We will be launching again at first light to resume the search.”
