Fears mount after sailor disappears between Wales and Ireland
A search operation is actively underway for a man reported to have fallen overboard from a UK-registered yacht in the Irish Sea, approximately 16 nautical miles south of Dunmore East, off the coast of Waterford.The alarm was raised late Saturday night by another individual aboard the vessel, prompting a coordinated response involving multiple rescue teams including the Irish Coast Guard, RNLI lifeboats, and UK Coast Guard aircraft.Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116, based in Dublin, joined the search alongside helicopter 117 from Waterford, a UK Coast Guard fixed-wing aircraft, and lifeboats from Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay, and Ballycotton, with calm weather conditions aiding the ongoing efforts.The yacht had been traveling from Brighton in southern England to Swansea via Falmouth and was near the Irish coast when the emergency call was made.The Coast Guard Coordination Centre in Dublin received the 999 call requesting assistance, and the search operation quickly mobilized.One person from the yacht has been safely brought to shore by rescue teams, but the search continues for the missing man believed to have gone overboard, with resources being actively coordinated to cover the area thoroughly.This incident highlights the critical role of coordinated maritime search and rescue operations in the Irish Sea, where unpredictable conditions can rapidly escalate emergencies.The Irish Coast Guard spokesperson confirmed the extensive deployment of air and sea assets, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to locating the missing individual.Past operations, such as the search and recovery efforts for the Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter R116 in 2017, demonstrate the complexity and inter-agency cooperation required in such missions, involving advanced technology like remotely operated vehicles and seabed mapping to enhance search effectiveness.
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