The Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter.
A major search operation is ongoing in Wexford Harbour this morning, for a young man who is believed to have entered the water from Wexford Bridge at approximately 2am.
The drone of the Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter was audible across Wexford town from around 3.30am this (Sunday) morning, as it performed tight loops of the Slaney Estuary from the bridge to Maudlintown and out towards the beach at Raven Point in search of the man, aged in his late teens
The Wexford RNLI inshore lifeboat frantically scanned the dark, still, water, taking instruction from above, with Rosslare/Carnsore and Curracloe Coast Guard units also participating in the search, but ultimately it was stood down temporarily after a couple of hours “to allow local conditions to improve. The helicopter subsequently returned to base in Waterford.
Rescue 117 was replaced by the Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter from Dublin shortly after 7.30 am, and it performed an extensive grid search of the entire harbour from Ferrycarrig, to Rosslare, out as far as Raven Point. Wexford RNLI are also on the water once again, while Coast Guard units have been deployed to search along the shore and gardaà are also attending the scene.
More to follow.
