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Irish coastguard head says hopes 'fading fast' for missing helicopter crew Irish coastguard head says hopes 'fading fast' for missing helicopter crew
(35 minutes later)
The head of the Irish coastguard has said hopes of finding three missing crew from a coastguard helicopter are "fading fast".The head of the Irish coastguard has said hopes of finding three missing crew from a coastguard helicopter are "fading fast".
Four crew members were on board when they lost contact at about 01:00 local time off the coast of Mayo in the Republic of Ireland.Four crew members were on board when they lost contact at about 01:00 local time off the coast of Mayo in the Republic of Ireland.
One of the four crew members was rescued on Tuesday morning off the west coast.One of the four crew members was rescued on Tuesday morning off the west coast.
The crew member is understood to be in a critical condition.The crew member is understood to be in a critical condition.
Debris has been spotted in the water and a search by two RNLI lifeboats, two Irish coastguard helicopters and several local fishing boats is focusing north of Achill Island in County Mayo.Debris has been spotted in the water and a search by two RNLI lifeboats, two Irish coastguard helicopters and several local fishing boats is focusing north of Achill Island in County Mayo.
The aircraft was providing cover for another coastguard helicopter on a mission when contact was lost.The aircraft was providing cover for another coastguard helicopter on a mission when contact was lost.
I spoke to one of those who had been out and he described the conditions as quite rough with a four to five metre swell but said they had recovered some of the wreckage.
He said that the debris field covered quite a considerable area.
But the search is continuing for those three missing crew members as well as the flight recorders which may go some way to explaining what actually happened here.
Eugene Clonan told a news conference it was a "very dark day" for emergency services in Ireland.Eugene Clonan told a news conference it was a "very dark day" for emergency services in Ireland.
"One person was picked up shortly before daybreak, that person is in a critical condition and we don't hold out an awful lot of hope for that person," he said."One person was picked up shortly before daybreak, that person is in a critical condition and we don't hold out an awful lot of hope for that person," he said.
He added that as time went on, "hopes are fading that we will find the rest of the crew".He added that as time went on, "hopes are fading that we will find the rest of the crew".
'Rescue family' hit hard'Rescue family' hit hard
The Irish coastguard's Sligo-based helicopter had been responding to a distress call from a crewman in need of medical attention on a UK fishing vessel.The Irish coastguard's Sligo-based helicopter had been responding to a distress call from a crewman in need of medical attention on a UK fishing vessel.
A second coastguard helicopter from Dublin, R116, had been assisting in the operation, about 150km west of Eagle Island, when it went missing.A second coastguard helicopter from Dublin, R116, had been assisting in the operation, about 150km west of Eagle Island, when it went missing.
Conditions were described as good when the helicopter - crewed by two pilots, a winch man and a winch operator - lost contact on its final approach to a refuelling depot.Conditions were described as good when the helicopter - crewed by two pilots, a winch man and a winch operator - lost contact on its final approach to a refuelling depot.
Declan Geoghegan from the Irish coastguard said the accident had hit the "rescue family" hard.Declan Geoghegan from the Irish coastguard said the accident had hit the "rescue family" hard.
"We don't know what happened and obviously there will be an air accident investigation into it," he said."We don't know what happened and obviously there will be an air accident investigation into it," he said.
"We'll continue to search for the missing crew members until such time as we have recovered them and the flight recorder.""We'll continue to search for the missing crew members until such time as we have recovered them and the flight recorder."
The Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport expressed concern for the missing crew and their families.The Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport expressed concern for the missing crew and their families.
"As the search for the Dublin-based helicopter R116 is currently under way I would like to express my sincere support and sympathies for all those involved," said Shane Ross."As the search for the Dublin-based helicopter R116 is currently under way I would like to express my sincere support and sympathies for all those involved," said Shane Ross.
The search operation is being led by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Malin Head, County Donegal.The search operation is being led by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Malin Head, County Donegal.
The Irish naval vessel, the LÉ Róisín, arrived in the search zone to assist on Tuesday morning.The Irish naval vessel, the LÉ Róisín, arrived in the search zone to assist on Tuesday morning.