A search is due to resume tomorrow morning (Wednesday) for a female swimmer who was one of two people reported missing after they failed to return to Silver Strand at Barna, Co Galway on Tuesday morning.
The body of a man in his seventies was recovered at 1.40pm on Tuesday by the RNLI Aran island lifeboat after the alert was raised shortly before 10am.
Both swimmers – who had gone out separately- were reported to be overdue at the same location.
While seas were calm, a dense fog had covered Galway and Barna throughout Tuesday.
The foggy conditions precluded the Irish Coast Guard Shannon rescue helicopter from joining the search which was co-ordinated by the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Sub Centre in Valentia in support of the Garda.
The Garda Press Office said that the body of the man recovered from the water was taken to University College Hospital, Galway, where a post mortem will be carried out. Garda are providing support to the families of both swimmers, who are believed to live locally.
Costelloe Bay Coast Guard boat, Galway Bay RNLI, the Civil Defence and Galway Sub-Aqua Club assisted in the search, along with local boats familiar with the area.
Cleggan Coast Guard Unit also assessed conditions for a drone search.
A briefing for tomorrow’s continued search for the woman was due to be held in Galway docks this evening.
