The Daily Star Ireland
Emergency services in County Donegal are continuing their search for a missing teenager who disappeared while swimming near Ned’s Point in Lough Swilly on Saturday afternoon. The incident, which occurred shortly after 4pm, involved three individuals between the ages of 16 and 19.
According to initial reports, one of the teenagers managed to reach the shore unaided. A second was retrieved from the water and transported in critical condition to Letterkenny University Hospital. Medical staff have described that individual’s condition as extremely serious. The third teenager remains unaccounted for, prompting an expansive multi-agency search operation.
A coordinated response is underway in the Buncrana area. The operation involves Rescue 118, a search and rescue helicopter based in Sligo, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station in Buncrana. They are supported by a fleet of up to 12 privately-owned local vessels conducting a systematic coastal sweep known as a “creeping line” search. Several ambulances have also been dispatched to Buncrana Pier to provide on-site medical assistance if required.
The effort is being led by the Malin Head Coastguard Coordination Centre. Additional support is being provided by local Gardaí units from north Donegal, in conjunction with national ambulance services and maritime authorities. In a formal statement, Gardaí confirmed their ongoing involvement and emphasized that the search is active and continuing.
Separate Incident in County Wexford as Body Recovered from Sea
In an unrelated development, authorities recovered the body of an unidentified man off the coast of County Wexford. The body was located east of Raven Point near the beachside area of Curracloe on Saturday afternoon.
The Irish Coast Guard and RNLI personnel conducted the recovery and returned the body to land. Gardaí were notified of the incident around 2pm. The deceased was subsequently transferred to University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem examination is scheduled to determine the cause of death.
Investigators are currently working to confirm the man’s identity. Gardaí stated that further action will depend on the outcome of the forensic examination.
