Major search for missing Royal Navy crew member off coast of Ireland

An urgent search is underway for a missing Royal Navy crew member after a distress call was received from a vessel off the coast of Ireland.

Emergency services are looking for the missing crew member who last seen at around 10.30pm last night.

The navy support vessel sent out a distress message at 9am, the Irish government confirmed.

The Irish Coast Guard, the Irish Air Corps, the RNLI, the naval vessel and other agencies have all joined the search.

Ireland’s department for transport said that the alarm was raised while the ship was north of Tory Island.

It said in a statement: ‘The Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Co-ordination center in Malin Head received a distress alert from a UK Naval support vessel just before 9am this morning.

‘The alert was for a missing crew member on board, last seen at approximately 10.30pm last night.

‘The vessel was located north of Tory Island when the alert was raised.

‘Malin Head Coast Guard are co-ordinating a search for the missing crew member in the sea off the northwest coast between Tory Island, Co Donegal and Eagle Island, Co Mayo.

‘The search from the air is being conducted by the Coast Guard’s fixed-wing plane Rescue 120F, based in Shannon airport; Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118, based in Sligo; and the Irish Air Corps plane, CASA 284.

‘A search is also being co-ordinated at sea by the UK Naval support vessel and three RNLI all weather lifeboats based at Ballyglass, Arranmore Island and Lough Swilly.

‘Other vessels of opportunity are also involved in the search.’

Metro has contacted the Royal Navy for comment.

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