Family of an Irish fisherman became concerned when his 14 metre fishing vessel failed to return to harbour at 23:30. Attempts were made to contact the fisherman by radio and phone but to no avail. Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station was contacted at 01:00 and the crew pagers were activated.
The Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, was given the last known position of the fishing vessel and they proceeded to the area 8 miles south east of Ballycotton lighthouse. The Waterford based Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117, was also launched. When close to the vessel’s last known position a red flare was spotted by the Ballycotton lifeboat and the fisherman was found safe and well in a life raft. It is understood he had been in the life raft for approx. four hours. He was taken aboard the RNLI lifeboat where his condition was assessed. He was safely landed ashore in Ballycotton where his family awaited his return.