Search under way for missing UK naval crew member
A multi-agency search is underway off the coast of the Republic of Ireland for a missing UK navy crew member.
Ireland’s Department for Transport (DfT) said in a statement that the crew member was last seen at 22:30 (local time) on Friday when the boat was near Tory Island, County Donegal.
It was stated that the Irish Coastguard received a distress call from a support ship belonging to the UK navy before 09:00 on Saturday.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the Royal Navy was assisting with a search and rescue operation to locate a man from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Unit.
The Irish Coastguard, Irish Air Force, RNLI, navy ship and others are involved in the search.
A DfT spokesman said Malin Coastguard was co-ordinating the search off the north-west coast between Tory Island and Eagle Island in County Mayo.
“The aerial search is being carried out by Coastguard fixed wing aircraft Rescue 120F based at Shannon airport, Coastguard helicopter Rescue 118 based in Sligo and Irish Air Force CASA 284 aircraft.”
A UK Navy support ship and three RNLI all-weather lifeboats and other vessels based at Ballyglass, Arranmore Island and Lough Swilly are also involved in the maritime search.
