Search to resume for man swept into sea at Kerry Head

A search operation off the coast of Co Kerry for a man who was swept into the sea while fishing on the rocks at Kerry Head on Friday is to resume on Saturday morning.

The Shannon-based rescue helicopter, the Fenit Lifeboat, Glenderry Coast Guard and the Ballyheigue Sea and Cliff Rescue joined the search on Friday at the scene between Ballybunion and Tralee, south of the Shannon estuary.

The Naval vessel the LÉ Orla was also searching off the north Kerry coast and was co-ordinating the search, Valentia Coast Guard said.

The man, a Chinese tourist, was rod and line fishing on rocks with a colleague at a point about 30ft above the sea surface when, it is understood, a large swell pulled him off the rocks at about 4pm.

His friend contacted Listowel gardaí, who alerted Valentia.

Over the past decade, a number of fishermen, including foreign nationals - particularly people from eastern Europe - have lost their lives after being swept into the sea off the Kerry coast.