Helmet and lifejacket found on Mayo shore

Investigations are being carried out to determine whether the items belong to a missing Rescue 116 crewmember.

By Gráinne Ní Aodha Sunday 1 Oct 2017, 7:02 PM

Oct 1st 2017, 7:02 PM 29,022 Views 7 Comments

https://jrnl.ie/3625014

Blacksod island.

Image: Eamonn Farrell via RollingNews.ie

Blacksod island.

Image: Eamonn Farrell via RollingNews.ie

GARDAÍ ARE INVESTIGATING whether a helmet and lifejacket found on Co Mayo coast belong to two of the missing crewmembers of Rescue 116.

A passerby found the items on shore at Elly, located near Clogher at around 8.20am yesterday. Examinations are taking place to determine whether they belong to a missing member of the Coast Guard helicopter crew.

Rescue 116 went down in March with four crew onboard while preparing to refuel at Blacksod, Co Mayo.

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick was recovered at sea soon after the helicopter went down, but died later in hospital. The body of pilot Mark Duffy was found in the wreckage of the helicopter some weeks later.

The bodies of winch operator Paul Ormsby (53) and winchman Ciarán Smith (38) have yet to be recovered. There have been a number of searches for the missing crewmembers since then, including several this July.

Read: Pilot flagged concerns that island was not on mapping system 4 years before Rescue 116 crash

Read: Searches resume for missing Rescue 116 crew members

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Gráinne Ní Aodha

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Helmet and lifejacket found on Mayo shore

Investigations are being carried out to determine whether the items belong to a missing Rescue 116 crewmember.

Read: Pilot flagged concerns that island was not on mapping system 4 years before Rescue 116 crash