A fisherman who survived 18 hours in a life raft after his fishing boat, Emerald Dawn, sank off the coast of Co Down is to return home to the Isle of Man today.
Mr Shane Murnaghan (28) was rescued yesterday after a merchant vessel, Moon Dance, picked him up about nine miles south of the Isle of Man. He had been about 18 hours in the raft at that stage.
His colleague, Mr Colin Donnelly (30), is missing. The alarm was raised after the fishing vessel failed to return to Kilkeel harbour around 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
Mr Murnaghan was airlifted by RAF helicopter to the Nobles Hospital in Douglas on the island. Although suffering from hypothermia, he was able to walk from the helicopter into the hospital for treatment.
The grief-stricken father of Mr Donnelly spoke today of his relief that his son's friend was brought home alive.
Mr Bernard Donnelly, speaking from the harbour at Kilkeel, Co Down, said his family have been through a "living nightmare" since his son Colin went missing.