Boy swept away in river Foyle feared drowned

A 14-YEAR-OLD schoolboy was missing, feared drowned, last night after he was swept away by a current while fishing in the river Foyle.

Two helicopters and four boats joined in the search near St Johnston in Co Donegal.

An Irish Coast Guard helicopter flew to the scene from its base at Strandhill, Co Sligo.

A PSNI helicopter from Northern Ireland also joined the search for a period after Malin Head Coast Guard station was alerted.

Two inshore rescue vessels from Greencastle went to the scene as well as a Foyle search and rescue boat and a local boat.

Dozens of villagers scoured the banks of the river for a number of hours after the accident was reported at 5.45pm.

Malin Head Coast Guard said the boy, a local, appeared to have stepped into a deep hole and was swept away by a strong current.

He was fishing with some friends who raised the alarm.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times