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Two fishermen brothers
die in Donegal sea tragedy
14.03.08
TWO elderly brothers
were confirmed dead tonight in a fishing
tragedy off the coast of the Inishowen peninsula.
Lobster fishermen Danny McDaid, 70 and his brother
Francis, who was in his 60s, were reported missing
around 5pm when their boat, the Strath Marie, failed to return to the
harbour at Bunagee near Culdaff. The brothers were
from the fishing community of Glengad near Malin and
were married with grown up children. |
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A major air and sea
search involving up to 100 personnel swung into
action covering the area from Culdaff to Inishowen
Head in the east of the peninsula. One of the
brothers was discovered in the water around teatime
by the Portrush Lifeboat and was flown to
Altnagelvin |
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Hospital in Derry by
the rescue helicopter. The search continued for his
brother who was located in the water around 9pm. He
was taken to the Derry hospital by ambulance. The
search was co-ordinated by Malin Head Coast Guard
marine rescue centre.
Irish Coast Guard area officer Charles Cavanagh
tonight told InishowenNews.com his team in
Greencastle was joined in the four-hour search by
crews from the Lough Swilly Lifeboat; Portrush
Lifeboat, the Sikorsky helicopter from Sligo and a
number of local fishing vessels.
"Debris and a number of items were found floating on
the water about a mile off Inishowen Head and a
short time after that they took the first casualty
from the water. A few hours later, the second
casualty was spotted by one of the local fishing
boats from Greencastle and was taken ashore by the
Coast Guard rib to Greencastle and then transferred
by ambulance to Altnagelvin," said Mr. Cavanagh.
An Altnagelvin spokesperson tonight confirmed the
brothers had died.
Sea conditions yesterday were relatively calm but
the search and rescue mission was undertaken in
persistent heavy rain and cold temperatures. An
investigation is expected to get underway today into
the cause of the tragedy. |
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