THE SEA SEARCH RESUMED OFF ACHILL SINCE FIRST LIGHT THIS MORNING FOR A FINNISH STUDENT WHO WAS SWEPT OUT TO SEA WHILE TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AT THE ATLANTIC DRIVE.

ITS BELIEVED THE 23 YEAR OLD WAS STANDING AT A ROCK AT THE SHORELINE TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE COASTLINE WHEN HE WAS SWEPT OUT TO SEA BY A GIANT WAVE SHORTLY AFTER MIDDAY.

THE TRAGEDY OCCURRED NEAR CLOUGHMORE.

THE VICTIM’S GIRLFRIEND AND ANOTHER YOUNG FINNISH COUPLE RUSHED TO THE NEAREST HOUSE TO RAISE THE ALARM. HIS NAME HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED.

THE ACHILL LIFE BOAT, THE ACHILL COASTGUARD TEAM AND THE SLIGO BASED RESCUE HELICOPTER WERE ALL TASKED TO ASSIST IN THE SEARCH BUT STOOD DOWN SHORTLY AFTER 6.15 PM LAST NIGHT DUE TO TREACHEROUS SEA CONDITIONS.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MALIN COASTGUARD TOLD MIDWEST NEWS THIS MORNING THAT THE SEARCH RESUMED AT DAYBREAK AND S SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ACHILL COASTGUARD DESCRIBED CONDITIONS ON THE SEA THIS MORNING AGAIN AS TREACHEROUS.