Heartache as body of fisherman recovered from water in Carlingford Lough as search stood down

THE BODY of a fisherman has been recovered from Carlingford Lough following a major search operation yesterday.

The alarm was raised shortly after 12:30pm following reports of a fishing vessel in trouble near Greencastle Point, Co Down on Tuesday.

The operation was conducted after the Coast Guard received a report the fishing boat with two people on board sank in Carlingford Lough shortly after 12:30pm yesterday.

It is understood two local fishermen were working in the area when their boat got into difficulty and sank, according to RTE.

One of the men was rescued from the water and brought ashore to Greenore Harbour in Co Louth, where he was treated by HSE paramedics.

A search was ongoing to recover the second person until Tuesday evening.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed this morning that the body of the second man had been found.

It said: “The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time, however, a post-mortem will take place in due course.”

PSNI also confirmed that the operation was then stood down.

The rescue crew included an RNLI lifeboat from Kilkeel, the Greenore Coast Guard boat, and Coast Guard rescue teams based in Newcastle and Kilkeel.

Air support was provided by the Irish Coast Guard’s Rescue 116 helicopter, with assistance from a Royal Navy helicopter.

Gardai were also on the scene to assist rescue teams.