Australian rescue search for Irish man

A 23-year-old Irishman is missing on Australia’s Queensland coast after he jumped overboard from a cruise ship on the Brisbane river last night.

The man was celebrating the birthday of a friend on board the Lady Brisbane when he jumped in to rescue his 26-year-old female companion who had fallen into the river at about 10.25pm near the Hale Street Link at Milton.

The woman was quickly rescued but the man, who could not swim, did not surface and a massive search operation was launched.

The pair were believed to be enjoying a meal together onboard the ship when the lady got into difficulty.

A search by water police, coast guard vessels and a rescue helicopter was quickly under way and police are continuing the search this morning.