Scaled down: Divers return to shore after Sunday's search. Pic: © Irish Examiner
Picture courtesy the Irish Examiner
A Scottish teenager has been swept into the sea off the south-west coast of Ireland.
A search was called off late on Sunday afternoon for the man, thought to be aged 19, as weather conditions worsened.
It is believed the Scot was walking on the beach taking pictures under cliffs near Baltimore, Co Cork, at around 7.30am on Saturday, when he was struck by a wave and carried into the water.
A friend - believed to be American - was also knocked into the sea but managed to recover and raise the alarm.
On Sunday afternoon, sources in Ireland confirmed that search teams were looking for a body. It is believed that the teenager's family were travelling to the area.
Up to 20 divers from the gardai and navy were combing a one-square-mile area around where he was last seen as the search was scaled down. It is understood some items of clothing and camera were also found on Sunday afternoon, around a mile east of where the man was last seen.
Earlier, the area's coastguard helicopter, Baltimore lifeboat crew and an Irish Naval Service vessel carried out a search of the coastline around the area, which is known locally as Spain village, Ballylynch. However, they were later stood down. Members of a local diving club also assisted in the search.
Winds were expected to remain gale force overnight and into Monday, making it unclear when the search would resume. The search was expected to last for up to 48 hours.
It is understood the teenager was renting out a house in the village for a holiday with several friends, and that they were on a weekend visit to the area. Reports suggested that a number of the other members of the group were German students.
Sources said lifeboats were frequently called out in the Baltimore area to deal with a range of incidents; however, it is understood there had not been any previous fatalities. Nine people were rescued last year.
