Search for missing Kerry canoeist

ANN LUCEY

A large-scale search is expected to resume tomorrow for a 38-year-old man who went out on a canoe or kayak on an inland lake near Cromane, Co Kerry early this morning and failed to return.

The missing man has been named locally as Nealie O’Connor, the father of a two-month-old baby. He had set out on the lake at 3am.

His partner raised the alarm at 8am when he failed to return. Originally from Tralee, Mr O’Connor and his family are living on the side of the lake Loch Gaineamháin.

Gardaí at Killorglin are co-ordinating the search assisted by the Valentia Coastguard.

The Killarney volunteer subaqua diving team are expected to join the search. Garda naval divers are engaged in the search in Union Hall for the missing fishermen.

The lake is shallow but visibility on the lake is poor. Fishermen from Cromane along with inland search teams from surrounding areas and the Shannon based coastguard helicopter are involved in the search.

The man’s kayak and paddle were recovered washed up on the eastern shore of the lake.

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