A SEARCH IS due to start again this morning for a Latvian fisherman who was washed off the rocks and into the sea off the Clare coast yesterday.

The 42-year old, who is understood to be an experienced fisherman, was fishing with four friends from the rocks at Fisherman’s Climb, Ailladee – a popular angling spot – yesterday morning. He went to the water’s edge to get a bucket of water to wash fish he had caught and a strong wave washed him into the sea.

His friends reported seeing him on the surface for around 15 minutes after he was washed out from the rocks but he has not been seen since. One of them entered the water just after the accident to try to help his friend and was later treated at the scene by coast guard members.

Yesterday searches were conducted by crews at Doolin and the Shannon Coast Guard Helicopter also assisted.

A spokesperson for Valentia Coast Guard, which is coordinating the search, told TheJournal.ie that naval divers are on their way this morning but the weather could hinder the search.

“They’ll make an assessment when they get there, we dont know if they’ll be able to dive because the weather is not very good,” they said. “It’s choppy out there, we’re expecting things to be better tomorrow.”

Four teams from the Doolin Coast Guard will conduct a shoreline search today but the spokesperson said “this is very much a diving operation now”.

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