Search continues for fisherman whose ship sank 100m offshore

SEARCHES will begin again this morning for a missing fisherman after his boat suddenly capsized off the Dublin coast yesterday afternoon.

Two men, believed to be related and from Skerries, Co. Dublin, were on the boat when it sank just 100 metres from Skerries Harbour, shortly after 1pm.

Members of the public noticed the trawler was in difficulty and raised the alarm, and the local Skerries RNLI lifeboat was on the scene within minutes.

One man was rescued from the sea but the other, said to be in his mid-20s, could not be found. A search was immediately launched yesterday before being called off last night as darkness fell.

A spokesman for the RNLI said: ‘The search will begin again at first light, probably at 6am, with the LÉ Niamh taking over from the LÉ Orla.’

It is understood that the stricken boat was a local razor clam fishing vessel, which operates in the shallow waters around Dublin Bay.

Skerries RNLI were the first on the scene but were quickly joined by the other units of the RNLI including the Howth and Clogherhead lifeboats, navy ship the LÉ Orla, the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter Rescue 116, the Garda Water Unit, and local fishing vessels who also joined the search.

A number of other boats in the area also assisted with the search.

Garda divers carried out dives close to where the boat capsized while other boats searched the debris field.

Many local people kept a vigil by the sea at Skerries Harbour as they hoped for the fisherman to be found.

The man who was rescued from the sea yesterday was said to have been conscious when he was found.

He received emergency medical aid at the shore from a doctor and an advanced paramedic, before being rushed by ambulance to hospital.

His condition was last night described as not serious, and he was said to be doing well in hospital where it is believed he will make a full recovery.