Search resumes for teenager swept out to sea

A major air and sea search was resuming at first light today for a 14-year-old-boy who was swept into the Irish Sea.

He was with another boy of the same age on rocks at Killough, Co Down, south of the entrance to Strangford Lough, when they were washed into the sea by waves yesterday afternoon.

Coastguards said local people managed to drag one of the boys to safety and he was taken to hospital for treatment.

The Coastguard spokesman up the coast in Bangor, Co Down, said two lifeboats, an Irish Coastguard helicopter from Dublin and four coastguard teams searched for the missing teenager yesterday with no luck.

“He was last seen in the water near the entrance to the inner harbour,” said the spokesman. Dozens of local people lined the shore in a bid to find the boy.

As darkness fell, the search continued with the helicopter using infra-red thermal-imaging equipment in an effort to spot the boy.

But coastguards said weather conditions were poor with winds of Force 5-6, high seas and a gale warning in force for later.

Eventually, foul weather forced the Irish coastguard helicopter to return to Dublin and the lifeboats to head back to port.

Coastguard search teams, the lifeboats and helicopter were returning at first light today.

An item of clothing belonging to the missing boy has been found and identified by his family.