Body found during search for missing swimmer in Galway Bay

Man, in his mid-40s, seen in difficulty in water at Salthill on Thursday afternoon

A body has been found by rescue workers participating in a search for a man missing in Galway Bay since Thursday.

The man, who is in his mid-40s, was reported to have gotten into difficulty while swimming at about 4pm on Thursday near the Blackrock Tower diving board at Salthill. Conditions at the time were calm and visibility was good.

The search began after 3.50pm when the Coast Guard was contacted by a member of the public and was halted last night before resuming early on Friday.

The Department of Transport said the Irish Coastguard helicopter Rescue 115 “spotted a body on the seabed in shallow water offshore” near Salthill at about 10.15am on Friday.

READ MORE

“The body was recovered into the Galway Inshore Life boat for transfer to Galway University Hospital to facilitate identification procedures.”

Members of the coastguard, RNLI, An Garda Síochána and Civil Defence teams were involved in the effort to find the man. Divers from Comhairle Fo-Thuinn, also known as Irish Underwater Council, were also involved.

Blackrock Tower in Salthill is a popular and well known site for local swimmers.

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times