Kilkenny sub aqua team pay tribute to Captain Fitzpatrick who died in Rescue 116 tragedy

Improving weather conditions off the North Mayo coast are helping emergency services’ search of the area where three helicopter crew are still missing.

Mark Duffy, Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith were on the Rescue 116 when it crashed into the sea on Tuesday morning.

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick was the first casualty to be found, and was confirmed dead yesterday. She had worked for many years with Rescue 117 out of Waterford and was well known among local search & rescue groups.

Denis Coughlan, Search and Rescue Co-ordinator with the Kilkenny sub aqua club told KCLR news she was a stellar representative of the Coast Guard.

He said a tragedy like this really hits all rescuers hard.