Search continues for man missing off coast of Bundoran

A search is taking place for a man missing off the coast of Bundoran, Co Donegal, after a group of swimmers got into difficulty.

The search was suspended yesterday evening and was due to recommence at first light on Wednesday morning.

The Bundoran lifeboat had started the search at about 6pm and the Coast Guard helicopter based in Sligo was also involved.

It is believed the missing man was a soldier who was in the area to take part in training excercises.

Shane Smith of RNLI Bundoran told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that both Bundoran lifeboat and Killybegs Coast Guard were on the scene on Wednesday morning at Tullan Strand conducting search patterns with the assistance of a rescue helicopter.

He said that just before 6pm yesterday five males went swimming at Tullan Strand, “and they got into difficulty, four were able to make it to shore themselves, with the help of local surfers, one unfortunately hasn’t made it out of the water yet.

“We were paged immediately, there was a lot of assistance, we launched very quickly, as did the helicopter out of Sligo. We were on the scene very quickly and commenced the search. We were stood down at 9pm when it got dark.”

Mr Smith said that conditions were difficult with a very heavy swell. “It was difficult for our boat to get in. It’s the same this morning, we had both Bundoran lifeboat and Killybegs coast guard on scene this morning conducting search patterns, and assisted by the helicopter which is sitting over Tullan strand at present. There is a sizeable shore crew searching along the coastline as well.”

It is believed that the men were at Finner camp. The search will concentrate on Tullan Strand as that the last place that the man was seen, it will be broadened to a wider area as the tides change, said Mr Smith.