Safe surfer shocked by major sea and air search

A YOUNG surfer was shocked to find he was the centre of a major search at the weekend, involving more than 50 members of the emergency services and an RAF helicopter.

The teenage boy had gone with his family to Owenahincha beach in west Cork on Sunday afternoon.

He decided to enter the water and left a note for his mother. But when he hadn’t returned by 2.50pm shebecame very worried and contacted the emergency services.

The Castlefreke, Glandore and Toe Head coastguard units were called out and started a coastline search — aided by the Courtmacsherry lifeboat and an RAF Sea King helicopter, which broke away from Sea Sunday in Kinsale to assist.

Shortly after 3.30pm, the teenager was spotted by members of the Castlefreke coastguard unit at nearby Long Strand. He had come in on the wrong beach.

A spokesman for the coastguard unit said the teenager was not hurt. The youth was taken aback after discovering he was the subject of a large search, especially when he saw the RAF Sea King helicopter hovering overhead.

He was subsequently reunited with his family.

“Thankfully it was a happy ending, as last September two men tragically drowned off Owenahincha,” the coastguard spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the Castletownbere lifeboat Annette Hutton was called out on Saturday evening to help three canoeists who got into difficulties off of Allihies, in the Beara peninsula.

Initial reports had suggested that one of the canoeists was in the water. Fortunately, there was a small vessel just off Allihies Point that went to the aid of thecanoeists and got them safely ashore.