The Killaloe unit of the Irish Coast Guard was involved in a search for a missing woman in Co Tipperary late on Wednesday night.
The woman in her 60’s had been walking in the Silvermines Hills in Tipperary with her husband when the pair became separated. The alarm was raised at around 11.00pm after the man had spent up to an hour searching for his wife.
It’s understood the experienced hillwalker had been walking a short distance behind her husband when they became separated. When he realised there was sign of his wife behind him he returned to search for her.
After about an hour however, and with no sign of the missing woman, he contacted the emergency services.
Gardaí from Nenagh and Roscrea travelled to the area and commenced a search while other agencies were contacted and mobilised.
Volunteers from the Killaloe unit of the Irish Coast Guard, who were returning from a river search in Limerick City, were diverted to the area.
A spokesman said: “Two teams of Coast Guard volunteers began a search of the area while mobile units drove along the many tracks the cross the hills in search of the missing woman.”
Nenagh Ormond Land Search Team, South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association and Limerick Land Search Team were also involved in the operation.
The Shannon based Irish Coast Guard helicopter travelled to the scene and used it’s powerful lights and infra-red camera to search the area.
In the meantime, the woman had kept walking until she found a public road where she was able to flag down a car which took her home.
A short time later, probably unaware of the massive search still ongoing for her, Gardaí were notified that the woman was safe at home. The search was stood down at around 2.00am.
On Tuesday, also in Co Clare, a 13-year-old boy reported missing in the early hours of the morning turned up at home while a multi-agency air, land and river search for him was ongoing nearby.
The teenager had left his home in Shannon as early as 4.00am and was reported missing by his family when they contacted gardaí at 8.20am.
Units of the fire brigade from Shannon and Ennis, including a Swiftwater Rescue Team (SRT) from the Ennis station, along with Irish Coast Guard units from Kilkee, Killaloe and Doolin were mobilised to assist in the search.
The Shannon based search and rescue helicopter along with Bunratty Search and Rescue and Limerick Marine Search and Rescue were also involved in the operation.
At around 10.20am the search was called off after it was confirmed the teenager had turned up at home.