Search for missing man after boat capsizes in Kenmare Bay

A man in his 50s was missing in Kenmare Bay after a boat capsized yesterday afternoon. A second man was rescued after he managed to swim to an island.

A large search and rescue operation, co-ordinated by Valentia Coastguard, got under way in the Templenoe area of Kenmare Bay at around 1.30pm.

One of the men had managed to swim to an island and the fire service, who were first on the scene, launched a boat and rescued him.

He is being treated for hypothermia.

However the search continued for a second man who was still missing.

The missing man has been named locally as Bill Toppin, a married father of three in his mid-50s, who is an electrician and from Templenoe.

Locals said he is a strong swimmer and they are holding out hope that he managed to reach one of the islands or the shoreline.

A spokesman for the coastguard in Valentia said the search, involving the Castletownbere Coastguard, the fire service, and the Shannon-based Sikorsky helicopter, was likely to be stood down for the evening.

Large numbers of locals also helped in the search.

A spokesman for the Derrynane Inshore Rescue service said weather conditions were very poor and that the search would resume this morning.

However, the forecast for today is not favourable, with Met Éireann issuing an Orange wind warning for counties including Kerry, Cork, Limerick, and Donegal, valid until midnight tonight.