Man’s body discovered on Donegal beach
The body of a man was washed up in Co Donegal today as a major sea search continued for a small boat off the south east coast.
Gardaí said a section of the strand at Bundoran has been sealed off for a forensic examination after the unidentified male was discovered around 12.20pm.
Meanwhile the coast guard service has appealed for any information after a report that a small boat carrying two men capsized in Waterford Estuary.
It said reports the two young men went underwater close to Arthurstown are still unconfirmed, with no boats or local people believed to be missing.
“At this point we still have a report that persons could be missing,” said a spokesman for the Irish Coast Guard.
“So we have to err the side of caution.”
A full rescue operation was mounted shortly after 6am after a member of the public raised the alarm.
Dozens of coast guard and RNLI personnel, gardai and a search and rescue helicopter have been involved throughout the morning.
The coast guard spokesman said the search will continue while gardai investigate the initial report.
“It is a clam day and it’s calm in Waterford Estuary, but a small boat could capsize for a number of reasons,” he added.
The Irish Water Safety Association has also warned people taking part in Christmas swims to be careful of high tides and low temperatures.
Elsewhere, the crew of Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Station held their annual memorial ceremony for all lives lost at sea at the lighthouse on the East Pier.
The service first started after the 1895 disaster in which an entire lifeboat crew were lost off Blackrock, Co Dublin, as they attempted to rescue the passengers and crew of the SS Palme that had been driven ashore at the height of a gale on Christmas Eve.
All on board the Palme were later rescued.
After a short ecumenical service, lifeboats were launched and two wreaths were laid on Dublin Bay
A lone piper also played a lament as the lifeboats went a short distance out to sea to where the original ’Civil Service No. 7 Lifeboat’ capsized.
“This annual commemoration is dedicated both to lifeboat crew lost over the years and also to the memories of all lives lost at sea around our coasts, in whatever circumstances, and their surviving families,” said a spokeswoman.
