Man’s body found in sea

THE body of a man missing since Monday night was recovered from a narrow sea channel in Valentia yesterday.

The discovery was made after locals dragged the area known as the “skult” near a popular viewing spot on the north of the island.

A large sea and air search had resumed at first light in Kerry after the 28-year-old Polish man was reported missing off the Culloo head, a popular, but treacherous fishing and viewing spot on Valentia Island on Monday night.

The man was apparently taking photographs at the time and it is believed he slipped and fell from the cliff in the area of Culloo Head, in the north-west of the island, around one mile from the coastguard station.

The missing man had become separated from his companions who raised the alarm shortly before 10pm.

Valentia Coastguard co-ordinated the search and called out the rescue helicopter from Shannon, along with the Knightstown coastguard, and the Valentia lifeboat.

It was called off as darkness fell but the search resumed at first light yesterday.

Knightstown Coastguard, along with three locals decided to drag with hooks and lines the narrow channel or skult — a slit in the cliff — and shortly before midday the body was located.

It was recovered from the water and a postmortem exam was due to be carried out last night.

It is understood the man was working in Cork and had been visiting the area.