Angler’s body is recovered from sea

The body of a 32-year-old man, believed to be from Kilkenny, who fell into the sea while fishing off rocks on Thursday night on Valentia Island in Co Kerry was recovered from the water yesterday lunchtime.

The recovery of the body around 300 yards west of Culloo Rock, a well-known but dangerous shore angling area in the north of the island, was made by civilian divers from Portmagee near the point where the man was seen to fall.

Naval divers were due to take part in the search, which included rescue helicopter and cliff and coast guard, as well as the Valentia lifeboat.

An extensive search, co-ordinated by the Valentia coastguard station, based near the search point, got under way after the man’s companions reported the fall shortly before 11pm on Thursday.

The party of seven from Kilkenny was scheduled to go sea angling yesterday and had hired a boat for a number of days.

On Thursday night the party went fishing from the high cliffs between Culloo Rock and Bray Head.

The area is notorious for freak waves and there have been several tragedies involving anglers falling or being washed off cliffs.

Efforts were made to save the man, who was in the water for about 10 minutes before slipping from view.

The man’s family were at the scene yesterday.

He was named locally as Chris Murphy from Kilkenny City.

The body was taken to Kerry General Hospital to undergo a post mortem examination.