“Some of the larger, well equipped local fishing vessels have been assisting us with our operation and we wish to thank them for their efforts thus far.”
UPDATE: Sunday 13 October, 7pm
Gardaí have officially stood down a multi-agency search operation for a young fisherman who who went missing off the coast of Cork on Wednesday.
The body of a man was located at sea on Sunday evening, 13 October.
The deceased has not been formally identified, though An Garda Síochána have noted that all search operations have been stood down.
UPDATE ENDS
The man, named locally as Kodie Healy, who is in his 20s, failed to return home on 9 October, and the wreckage of a boat has since been discovered near the coastline in Dunmanus Bay.
Members of An Garda Síochána, members of the Coast Guard, Irish Naval Service, Civil Defence and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution are continuing to carry out searches in the Dunmanus Bay area.
Gardaí thanked the public for their willingness to assist them in the search but cautioned the public not to put themselves in danger in their attempts to help and to instead leave it to the emergency services.
Speaking at Bantry Garda Station, Superintendent Declan O Sullivan said: “On behalf of all of the agencies involved in this search operation, I would ask for members of the public not to put their lives at risk by taking to the water around the search area, or by walking around the shoreline and cliff edges, in an attempt to assist us.
“We understand that your assistance is well-intentioned, but you are putting yourself at risk in poor weather conditions.
“Some of the larger, well equipped local fishing vessels have been assisting us with our operation and we wish to thank them for their efforts thus far. Emergency services will indicate what assistance the public could provide if necessary.”
Main image via Irish Coast Guard
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