Man's body recovered in search for two swimmers missing off Galway coast

Rescue workers searching for a man and a woman who were reported as missing after going for a swim in the sea in Co Galway have recovered a body in the water.

Emergency and rescue services were dispatched to the scene at Silver Strand in Barna to the west of Salthill at around 10.30am Tuesday morning.

The alarm was raised when a swimmer, a man in his early 70s, did not return to shore having gone for a swim around 8am on Tuesday morning.

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As the search began for the man, it emerged that a woman, aged in her 30s, was also missing off Silver Strand, and the search then covered the two swimmers reported as missing. The woman was reported missing after failing to arrive at work and her car was located at Silver Strand, where she regularly went for a swim.

Gardaí are treating the incidents separately and are trying to establish what happened.

The Irish Coast Guard confirmed that a body of a man, believed to be in his 70s, was recovered at 1.30pm on Tuesday a short distance away at Rusheen Bay.

The search operation to find the female swimmer continued this afternoon but heavy fog hampered the operation and the search was called off as darkness fell. The rescue operation will resume at first light on Wednesday morning.

In an update issued this afternoon, Superintendent Paudie O'Shea confirmed that the body of a man had been recovered during their search.

"Gardaí received a report at approximately 10am today of a man who failed to return to shore following a swim at Silver Strand," he said in a statement.

"At around 1.40pm, the body of a man was recovered close by and brought by the Galway RNLI to Galway Docks and then by ambulance to University Hospital Galway, where a post mortem examination will be carried out.

"Gardaí are working closely with the family of the deceased at this difficult time.

"Separately, while attending the scene this morning, Gardaí became aware that another person, a woman, had entered the water and failed to return from a swim.

"Searches are being coordinated by An Garda Siochana with the assistance of the Coast Guard, RNLI, Galway Civil Defence, Galway Sub Aqua Club and local volunteers.

"An Garda Síochána is supporting the family of the missing lady at this time. We thank the local community for their support over the course of the past few hours."

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