Divers hoping to search for the Rescue 116 debris today

POOR weather conditions hindered the search for the missing Coast Guard helicopter again yesterday, but rescue workers are hopeful dives can go ahead today.

Yesterday marked a week since Rescue 116 met its tragic end off the coast of Co. Mayo, and a multi-agency search team has been stationed in Blacksod Bay since the helicopter was reported missing.

However, naval and Garda divers were again unable to resume the search yesterday due to turbulent waters and large swells.

Coast Guard officer Declan Geoghegan said yesterday: ‘We got more site scan information, they’re analysing that and they’re hoping to have a meeting early in the morning at seven o’clock.’

It is hoped that a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) will first enter the waters near the small island of Blackrock, around 12km from the shore, where a significant amount of wreckage has been discovered.

After the ROV is deployed it is hoped that diving teams can enter the waters. Mr Geoghegan said: ‘Hopefully the weather improves, the wind is now northerly and the swell has lengthened, so that gives us an opportunity to get in there hopefully fairly early tomorrow with an ROV and maybe divers.

‘It seems to be getting okay from tomorrow maybe into Thursday and Friday so we should have a good window if the weather holds up.’

The search for the remaining debris and black box from the helicopter is being focused within a 100-metre distance from Blackrock. A lighthouse and helicopter pad are on the rock. And the waters surrounding it are extremely difficult to traverse and prone to large swells, which have hampered the progress of the search mission.

A signal from the black box was detected metres from Blackrock at around 4pm last Wednesday. Search teams are attempting to pinpoint the precise location of the homing beacon which is submerged at a depth of around 40metres.

It is hoped that the black box is attached to remaining wreckage from the aircraft and that the three missing crew members are with the wreckage. Local councillor Gerry Coyle said the rescue mission has not slowed down.