Up to 100 soldiers from the Defence Forces are assisting the Irish Coast Guard and local Lifeboat crews in the ongoing search for a young soldier who is feared drowned near Tullan in County Donegal.
The Sligo based Rescue helicopter is involved in the search along with Lifeboat crews from Bundoran and Killybegs.
The corporal was on a training exercise at Finner Camp and went swimming with four other soldiers on Tuesday evening. The missing soldier, aged 28 and named as Gavin Carey, is based at Custume Barracks, Athlone and believed to be from the Mullingar area.
(Photo: Donegal Now News)
The search was initially being concentrated along Roguey cliff and Tullan Strand in Bundoran and was later extended on Thursday about 10km in either direction to Tullaghan, Co Leitrim, and Creevy, outside Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
Shane Smith of the Bundoran RNLI lifeboat said there was a “heavy swell” when the soldiers were swimming. He said “It is a great beach for surfing. It’s not a bad beach for swimming, it’s not the world’s worst. But there is quite dangerous current that runs alongside the cliff, which is why we presume the gentleman got into trouble.”
It is expected that more soldiers and search teams may get involved in the search over the weekend if required.
