A fisherman has died and a second man is missing after a fishing trawler sank south of Hook Head around 10.30 last night.

It is understood that the alert came from the craft’s Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and lifeboat volunteers from Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay rushed to the scene.

Coast Guard helicopter 117 airlifted a man from the water and conveyed him to University Hospital Waterford. Gardai have confirmed that the man, in his 60s, has since died.

The search continues for a second man who is missing.

A local source at Kilmore Quay this morning suggested that a catastrophic incident must have occurred because there was no SOS distress call and EPIRB alert only sends out a signal when the vessel is under water!

The area where the tragedy occurred is a common fishing ground and weather conditions at the time were around Force 4/5.