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Search operation under way after fishing boat sinks

PA Media Three vessels on a body of water with a jetty behind them. There are two smaller boats in the foreground, with one RNLI orange craft heading out from shore, creating a spray. There are several people on board wearing white helmets and lifejackets. PA Media
The boat sunk between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in Carlingford Lough

A search operation is under way after a fishing boat with two people on board was reported to be sinking in Carlingford Lough.

The Irish Coast Guard received a call from a member of the public at 12:30 BST that a boat was in difficultly near Greencastle Point in County Down.

One person has been recovered from the sunken vessel by a local boat and transferred into the care of paramedics at Greenore harbour.

There is an ongoing operation to recover the second person.

PA Media An Irish Coast Guard boat on a body of water, with some green fields in the background. There are three people on the orange inflatable boat, wearing red life jackets and yellow helmets. There are three people standing on the shore, waiting for the boat to come in. Two are in orange hi-vis jackets. One is wearing a red life vest.PA Media
The operation is being run from Belfast but involves emergency services from the Republic of Ireland

The Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Belfast is co-ordinating the response.

The Irish Coast Guard's helicopter Rescue 116, based in Dublin, and the Greenore Coast Guard unit were dispatched.

An RNLI lifeboat from Kilkeel was also sent, along with Coastguard rescue teams from Newcastle and Kilkeel. A Royal Navy helicopter also assisted.

Michael Muckian, chair of the Cooley Peninsula Community Alert group, said: "The boat got into difficulty in the early afternoon and there is currently a number of boats on the lough still searching."

Speaking to the Evening Extra programme, Muckian said the tide and currents at the incident location were "incredibly strong".

"It really is a fishing and water-based community coming together to try and help those involved," he said.

"The RNLI train here every Wednesday for eventualities like this and that training has been put to good use."