The body of an elderly man missing from his small boat since yesterday morning was recovered from the sea off the Co Waterford coast last night after a day-long search involving rescue vessels, fishing boats, Naval divers and Air Corps helicopters.
Mr Paddy Kelly, of Ballymacaw, between Dunmore East and Tramore, set off in fine conditions early yesterday morning to check offshore lobster pots. With him in his punt was his Golden Labrador dog.
Mr Kelly, said to be in his early 70s and an experienced lobster fisherman, was last seen by a passing fisherman at about 10 a.m., when he was hauling a pot. At noon another local fisherman noticed that the dog was alone in the boat, which was tied to a lobster pot marker about 200 yards off the nearby cove of Rathmoylan.
A search began and a naval diving team conducted an underwater search. Fishing boats, an Air Corps Alouette helicopter and members of the Irish Marine Emergency Services carried out a shoreline search.
The body was found in the sea near Brownstown Head at about 7 p.m. and was airlifted to Waterford Regional Hospital. Mr Kelly was married, with six grown-up children.