Gardai release body of drowned fisherman

Gardaí in Galway have released the body of a Spanish fisherman who died off the west coast on Christmas Eve.

He has been identified as Mr Daniel Pineiro Costas (36), a single man from Galicia in north-west Spain. Mr Costas was a crew member of the Spanish fishing vessel Jeni Lisi, which was fishing about 140 miles west of Slyne Head, Co Galway, when the accident occurred.

Mr Costas was working on deck when he was hit by a trawl warp. He was knocked unconscious by the blow and swept overboard. When his colleagues on board tried to rescue him, their vessel's propeller fouled in nets and lost engine power. Winds at the time were south-westerly, force five to six.

Valentia Coast Guard despatched the Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter to the scene. It was accompanied by an RAF Nimrod aircraft to provide top cover. The Nimrod aircraft spotted Mr Costas in the water shortly before lunchtime, but he had failed to survive the incident as he had been over three hours in the water.

The Jini Lisi was taken in tow to Castletownbere, Co Cork, on Friday.