Asking to remain anonymous at this ‘difficult time’, the missing man’s father told the ‘Journal’ his 42 year old son went for a walk on the rocks late on Saturday night but didn’t return.

“We are assuming that our son slipped on rocks and went into the water, he didn’t go missing from the pier as some reports have suggested.

“We have no details at all except that the search of the coast and sea continued from 5am this morning with frogmen also being deployed.

”This is our youngest son and it is heartbreaking when children go before their parents.”

The search, involving members of An Garda Síochána, the Irish Coastguard, the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA) and members of the public was sparked when the man was reported missing at 4pm on Sunday.

The man was holidaying on the island with his wife and she has now returned to Derry to be with other family members.

Divisional Controller with the Irish Coastguard at Doolin Station, John Falvey, yesterday described the search area as “considerable” and added, “the missing man had been in the water a long, long time.”

“Local people and Garda had been searching since 9am this morning. Coastguard units from Doolin are currently searching around Inis Óirr and the Shannon based search and rescue helicopter, Rescue 115, continues to search the sea at low water.”

In total, 20 members of the Doolin Coastguard plus six crew on the lifeboat and four manning the helicopter are involved in the search.

Mr. Falvey added: “The Doolin Coast Guard launched at 4.45pm on Sunday and proceeded to the Island where it began line searches alongside the Aran lifeboat. The Shannon Coast Guard Helicopter, Rescue 115, was also tasked to the search.

“More team members and a SARDA Dog team were transferred by Doolin Coast Guard Delta rib and commenced shore and land searches on the island. Teams stood down at 11pm on Sunday but resumed the search at 9am on Monday.”

At the time of going to press the search was ongoing.