A diver searching for wartime wrecks was missing, feared drowned, 26km off the northwest Donegal coast yesterday.
The man was one of seven divers exploring first World War and second World War wrecks 70 metres down on the seabed north of Horn Head. They dived from the Rosguill, a 13 metre Aquastar vessel, at 11.45am. Malin Head Coast Guard said six divers surfaced shortly before 2.30pm. When the seventh failed to appear three minute later the alarm was raised and a full-scale air-sea search was launched.
A search and rescue helicopter from Strandhill, Co Sligo, and another from RAF Prestwick, flew to the scene. Up to 10 surface vessels including a Scottish fisheries protection boat, two lifeboats, a fishing trawler and another diving vessel were also searching for the missing man.
He was a member of a group from Britain which sailed on the chartered Rosguill from its base at Meevagh boatyard in Mulroy Bay. The diver was using an oxygen set known as a rebreather. This provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and recycles exhaled gas.
The area is popular with divers exploring wrecks of ships which sank while negotiating the North West Passage in both world wars. The Rosguill is owned and skippered by Michael McVeigh from Downings, Co Donegal.