Divers join search for missing father and son

Naval divers today joined the search for a Polish man and his teenage son who vanished while fishing on Sunday.

Coastguard and lifeboat crews are also combing the west Cork coastline for the pair, who are feared drowned.

Piotr Latek and his 13-year-old son Matthias were reported missing yesterday when they failed to meet Mr Latek’s father who had flown in for a holiday.

Gardaí later found Mr Latek’s car, a black Nissan Micra, parked at Coominches about half a mile from Cod’s Head between Allihies and Eyries.

A search of the rugged coastline also recovered two fishing rods, a bag and clothing belonging to the pair.

Mr Latek, 40, was living in Kenmare, Co Kerry, and has worked in a bakery for the last two years.

On Sunday he told friends he was taking his son, who was on holiday from Poland, on a fishing trip.

Rescuers fear the pair were both swept from the rocks at Cod’s Head in high winds and sea conditions on Sunday afternoon.

The rocky terrain is up to 20 feet above sea level.

A full scale air, sea and land search was launched yesterday and called off at nightfall.

A naval spokesman said a team of eight divers arrived in west Cork last night and travelled out to the scene this morning.

He said there was a heavy swell in the waters being searched, which is between 10 to 15 metres deep.

“It is quite dangerous as the whole body of water is moving around them,” he added.

“Obviously safety is paramount, which is why there is a team of eight.”

Lifeboat and coastguard vessels from Castletownbere, and the Derrynane Inshore Rescue Service, have also resumed a sea and coastline search.