The Coast Guard has disclosed that search efforts for a young male in his late teens, suspected to have entered the waters around Wexford Harbour, have temporarily paused due to waning light and unfavourable conditions. The incident reportedly took place around 2am on Sunday.
Search efforts are set to commence again at 8am the following day, with the help of units from the Coast Guard and the RNLI, in addition to support from Slaney Search and Rescue. It was around 3.30am when the Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter drone arrived on the scene, conducting a thorough search across the Wexford Bridge vicinity where the young man was last reportedly seen.
The early hours search was led by the inshore lifeboat from Wexford RNLI with units from both Rosslare/Carnsore and Curracloe Coast Guard with Gardaí also present. The search was allowed a break between 5am and 7.30am in order to allow the severe weather conditions to alleviate.
In a press release, Gardaí stated they currently are undertaking a search operation in conjunction with local rescue services, including “Wexford Bridge and Harbour for a male in his late teens” who entered the water around 2am on Sunday. The RNLI and Coast Guard were at the scene promptly and commenced a search that has resumed at 8am, assisted by the R116 helicopter.
The Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter, stationed in Dublin, covers the harbour area as well as nearby Ferrcarrig and Raven Point. A Coast Guard representative elaborated that at around 2.05am, the Irish Coast Guard was alerted to a reported incident in Wexford town of a civilian entering the water. Responding to the scene were units from Rosslare/Carnsore and Curracloe Coast Guard, Wexford RNLI inshore lifeboat, and the Waterford-based Coast Guard helicopter R117, supported by the Gardaí.
Following an extensive sweep of the area, search operations were suspended at about 5am until 7.30am for safety owing to local conditions. The search is to recommence with Rosslare/Carnsore and Curracloe Coast Guard units, Wexford RNLI, and Dublin-based Coast Guard helicopter R116 returning to the scene.