The search for an lone rower whose emergency beacon was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean last night has been called off.
Mr Nenad Belic (62) from Chicago, set out in his boat on May 11th from Cape Cod in the United States, heading for Bantry Bay.
At 9.30pm on Sunday his Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was activated 230 miles west off Ireland.
It was found floating overnight in the sea by an RAF rescue helicopter but there was no sign of retired cardiologist Dr Belic, nor of his boat The Lun.
A search continued throughout today involving Nimrod aircraft and vessels in the area, but tonight it was called off.
A coastguard spokeswoman said: "After a thorough search of the area we have not found anything and so the decision has been made to terminate the search.
"The search units and vessels have been released to go on with their passage."
She said coastguards would still investigate and respond accordingly to any future sightings of, or communications from, Dr Belic.
PA