Ireland

Two missing paddleboarders found clinging to lobster pot by fisherman

Two young women have been found alive after failing to return from paddleboarding in Connemara
Two young women have been found alive after failing to return from paddleboarding in Connemara Two young women have been found alive after failing to return from paddleboarding in Connemara

Two young women reported missing off the coast of Co Galway have been found alive after they were discovered clinging to a lobster pot by a local fisherman.

A major search was launched after the 17-year-old and 23-year-old failed to return from paddleboarding yesterday evening.

An RNLI spokeswoman said they were found by a local fisherman and are believed to have survived for more than 15 hours in the water.

She said: "They were found by a local fisherman and his son who set off to search this morning. They headed down by Inis Oirr when they spotted them clinging to a lobster pot.

"They are safe and well and were brought to Inis Oirr to be picked up by Coast Guard helicopter. The lifeboat crews are over the moon," said the spokeswoman.

Gardai, the Coast Guard and local search teams had been scouring the coastline in the Furbo beach area of Connemara, Co Galway, for the missing women.

The Irish Coast Guard tweeted: "Two Missing Paddle Boarders located and being transferred to the care of the HSE, search is now standing down, thank you to everyone that assisted in this SAR operation."

The two women have been taken to Galway University Hospital for treatment but their condition is unknown.