Search set to resume for missing fisherman

A SEARCH is set to continue today for a missing fisherman who fell into Cork harbour after the small boat he was in capsized and sank.

The alarm was raised after his companion, the boat’s skipper, managed to swim to shore and contact the emergency services.

The two men had been raising lobster pots in the harbour off Ringabella Bay when the accident happened. Conditions were described as calm at the time.

The emergency services were informed of the accident at 10.50am by the 34-year-old boat’s skipper, Jamie Fitzgerald from Crosshaven, who managed to make it safely to shore.

Mr Fitzgerald, an experienced fisherman, who has played for many years with his local GAA club, was given medical attention a short time later.

The LÉ Emer arrived at the scene 25 minutes later and started to co-ordinate the search.

Around the same time the Ballycotton lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, and two lifeboats from Crosshaven arrived at the scene where they also helped to search for the missing man, who is believed to be from Blackrock.

The LÉ Emer deployed teams on rigid inflatables to search the bay and they were assisted by a navy diving team.

Five local fishing vessels joined the search, along with the coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117.

At around lunchtime navy divers found the small fishing boat, Carraig an Iasc, submerged in six metres of water at Fish Point, on the southern shore of Ringabella Bay.

They had to return to the LÉ Emer a short time later to recharge their oxygen tanks before resuming the search in the afternoon.

A naval service spokesman said because of tidal conditions they extended the search area from Myrtleville to Robert’s Cove and the search team was bolstered by another rib crew which was dispatched from the LÉ Niamh.

A number of locals also searched the shoreline until it became too dark to continue.

Cllr Tim Lombard, who knows the sunken boat’s skipper well said he was thankful that Mr Fitzgerald had managed to make it to shore safely.

“I think all our prayers are now with the missing man and his family. The entire community is in shock, but still many locals have come out to help,” said Mr Lombard.