Lough Lene diver found

A diver missing on Lough Lene for more than 10 hours overnight was found alive just as gardaí were beginning to fear the worst.

Two foreign nationals from Blanchardstown had been night diving in the early hours of Friday morning when they were separated by fog.

The lost diver was reported missing to Gardaí at 7.30am and patrol units from Delvin and Castlepollard began their search from the Cut, Collinstown.

At 10.30am, the Garda Water Unit Diving Section and a helicopter from the Dublin Coastguard were deployed, but moments later the missing diver was delivered to the cut by a young man who found the him on a side road.

Sergeant Alan Brehon, Castlepollard, was delighted that the man appeared safe and sound.

“The young man came up from Dublin for snorkelling; he got separated from his swimming companion and ended up disorientated and swimming around on the lake. He was physically exhausted when he reached shore but eventually found his way to a public road where he flagged down a driver, who brought him to us at The Cut.

“We were fearing the worst right up until he arrived. He was missing since 3am and we were resigned that we might have been recovering him, so when he arrived we were all absolutely delighted.”