Search for man missing from capsized boat

An air and sea search was mounted off the Northern Ireland coast today for a man missing after a fishing boat capsized and sank.

An RAF helicopter, naval patrol vessel, the Kilkeel lifeboat and a number of other boats were scouring Carlingford Lough, off Rostrevor, Co Down, for the man.

Two other people were taken to hospital after being rescued.

Coastguards said the 10-metre fishing boat Charisma went down in shallow water some 90 metres off shore. Two of the crew were rescued by another fishing vessel, Cassie Anne, which was operating nearby.

Richard Newell at Belfast Coastguards said: ‘‘The fact that the vessel was so close to shore has given us a relatively small search area. We are expecting to have a police dive team on scene shortly to search below water.’’

Members of a local sub-aqua club were also helping with the search, said police.