Hopes were today fading of finding a missing Irish teenager alive after she fell overboard while holidaying on a cruise ship in the Caribbean.
Lynsey O'Brien, from south Dublin, is feared drowned after she disappeared early on Thursday while on a trip with her family.
A search for the 15-year-old by Mexican authorities has been slowed by rough sea conditions, official Genaro Medina said.
Coastguard helicopters were continuing to look for her, but rescuers were no longer optimistic about finding her alive.
Lynsey fell into the sea early on Thursday morning from the Costa Magica cruise ship, 26 miles off the popular tourist destination of Isla Mujeres.
Mr Medina said: "It's really difficult (to believe) the young woman is alive. The impact could have caused an instantaneous death since the distance between the railing from where she fell and the water is 30 to 40 meters (100 to 130 feet)."
PA
