Search continues for missing fisherman

An air and sea search resumed today for a fisherman missing off the south east coast after his boat overturned.

An air and sea search resumed today for a fisherman missing off the south east coast after his boat overturned.

RNLI teams, the coastguard and local fishing vessels are involved in the search for the father-of-four, from Ballyhack, Co Wexford.

He has been named locally as John Ennis, who is in his early 60s.

The alarm was raised shortly after midday yesterday when the skipper of thestricken vessel, Richard McNamara, was spotted in the water as he swam ashore.

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It is understood the two men were hauling lobster pots about half a mile north of Duncannon in the Suir Estuary when the 9metre vessel, called Na Buachailli, overturned and sank.

A search and rescue helicopter from Waterford Airport, several local fishing vessels and lifeboat and coastguard crews from Fethard-on-Sea and Dunmore East all scrambled to the scene.

They resumed the search before 8am today.

Ciaran O Mullein, of Dunmore East Lifeboat Station, said the stricken boat had been located on the seabed.

He said, while weather conditions were calm in the morning, gale-force winds, heavy rain, high tides and strong currents later hampered search efforts.

PA