The Irish Coast Guard has resumed its search operation off the coast of Waterford for a man reported missing from a yacht late last night.
The alarm was raised at approximately 10:40pm on Saturday when a distress call was received from a man on board the vessel. The caller, who believed the yacht was near Swansea, Wales, contacted emergency services after realising his companion had gone missing.
However, the Irish Coast Guard later confirmed that the yacht was located 16 nautical miles south of Dunmore East, near Ceann Heilbhic in County Waterford. A large-scale search was immediately launched and continued through the night into Sunday morning.
The rescue operation, coordinated by the Irish Coast Guard, involves the Coast Guard helicopter based in Waterford and the Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat. Efforts are expected to continue into the afternoon as teams scour the search area.
One man, understood to be in his 50s, was rescued from the yacht during the initial response and transported to University Hospital Waterford for medical assessment. His current condition has not been disclosed.
Preliminary reports suggest the vessel was en route from Brighton to Swansea via Falmouth, and that the two men on board are related.
Authorities have also liaised with the UK Coast Guard, given the vessel’s intended route and the initial confusion over its location. Despite rough overnight conditions, Irish search teams are continuing their efforts with aerial and maritime resources.
A spokesperson for the Coast Guard confirmed the operation remains active and that all available resources are being utilised in the ongoing search.
Further updates are expected as the search progresses.
