LAST UPDATE | 12 Dec 2023

ONE FISHERMAN IS missing and a second has been hospitalised after their boat got into difficulty off the Louth coast.

The Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) has been coordinating the search and rescue operation and earlier tasked the Irish Coast Guard and local rescue teams to assist in the search for the first fisherman.

Shortly before 9am this morning, the MRCC in Dublin received a “mayday call” from a small fishing vessel in the North Irish Sea off Co Louth.

It is understood the search has been focused on one nautical mile past Dunany Point in the Dundalk Bay area.

The search at sea for the missing man has been suspended for the night due to darkness. Coast Guard Units have also suspended their shoreline search due to darkness. 

The search will resume at first light tomorrow morning. 

Earlier, Ivan Longmore from the MRCC said conditions were calm in the area with “very good visibility” in the search for the missing man.

He told RTÉ Radio One’s News at One that the rescued man was “recovered conscious but very cold” and is receiving treatment in hospital.

Following this morning’s alert, the MRCC tasked Dublin based Coast Guard Helicopter R116, Clogherhead Coast Guard Unit, Greenore Coast Guard Unit and Clogherhead RNLI Lifeboat.

With reporting by Hayley Halpin