A large-scale search continued yesterday for the missing American climber Michael Reardon.
The 35-year-old extreme rock climber, regarded as one of the world's leading free solo climbers - he scaled great heights around the world without the aid of ropes - was washed out to sea off Valentia island on Friday shortly after 5pm.
Early reports suggested he had slipped and fallen. However, he had just completed a climb on the cliff face at Dohilla and was standing almost at sea level at the time.
According to local people there was a swell in the sea about that time and a large wave swept the climber off the rocks.
It appears he was visible for some time in the water and was able to respond to calls.
He was due to climb the sheer face of the Great Skellig on Saturday accompanied by photographers. A photographer who was documenting his climbs around Ireland over the past month summoned help from the nearby Coast Guard station.
Over the past month, Michael Reardon had climbed throughout Ireland at leading crags from Fair Head in Co Antrim to the Gap of Dunloe in Kerry. Earlier this year he had completed difficult climbs in the Rockies. He featured regularly on the front covers of leading climbing magazines and he had a huge following.
Teams of divers from the Naval Service and Garda completed a number of dives yesterday at the spot from which he was carried, but found no trace. For the third consecutive day the Shannon-based Sikorsky helicopter scanned the area, and coast and cliff search and rescue units were involved in the search, along with climbing friends.
The Valentia lifeboat with coxwain Seán Murphy was at the scene for the third day in a row. Mr Murphy said conditions were good.
A film-maker and writer, Reardon had his own website, subtitled "Life Without Limits". In it he describes his wife Marci as his "best friend". She and their 13-year-old daughter have travelled from the United States and they were due in Valentia last night.