Searches are continuing for a person reported to have entered the River Fergus in Ennis late last night.
Clare Civil Defence volunteers are leading a renewed search operation this afternoon.
It’s understood a man entered the river at around 11pm last night and that Gardaí deployed life-buoys in an effort to rescue him, though he was quickly taken downstream in the strong current.
Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station, and the National Ambulance Service then became involved in rescue efforts.
The Irish Coast Guard was notified and the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter was tasked, while volunteers from the Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard were also mobilised to the incident.
The crew of Rescue 115 used the helicopter’s powerful search lights to scour the river for any trace of the man.
Three hours after the search was first mounted the search operation was stood down, at around 2am this morning.
Clare Civil Defence volunteers launched two boats back into the river just before 2am as the operation resumed.
Searches are planned to continue into this afternoon.
