Article Updated: 14th October 2024 – A previous version of this report referenced the launch of the search effort on Thursday 3rd October. Donegal Daily wishes to clarify that the alarm was raised on Thursday evening after Mr Buchanan’s family grew concerned about his whereabouts.
An extensive search will continue on the west and northwest coast of Donegal this afternoon for missing kayaker, Paul Buchanan.
Today’s searches will concentrate around low water at 3pm and will involve Bunbeg Coast Guard Unit, boat, drone and search teams and the R118 helicopter from Sligo.
The Irish Coast Guard has led a massive search operation since Thursday night, when Mr Buchanan was first reported missing after failing to return from a kayaking trip.
Mr Buchanan, from Ramelton, set off from Magheragallon pier in Gweedore and was spotted by locals at around 7pm on Thursday between Inis Meáin island and the coast. The alarm was raised within an hour of his family growing concerned about his whereabouts.
His kayak was found nearly 5 km north of Tory on Friday evening.
To date, an extensive search has been carried out in the area involving, Bunbeg Coast Guard Unit using Boat, Drone and Shore Searches, Aranmore RNLI All Weather Boat, Lough Swilly RNLI All Weather Boat, R118 Sligo based helicopter, R116 Dublin based helicopter, R199 UK Prestwick based helicopter and Aer Corp Casa.
Crews are focusing their search in the West and northwest Donegal coast.
The extensive search has covered the general area of Gola island, Magheragallon and the surrounding islands of Owey and Inishfree up to the Bloody Foreland.
Over the weekend, prayers and masses have been offered for Mr Buchanan and to his wife, Bernadette, and sons Mark and Martin. Mr Buchanan is a well-known chartered accountant who has a practice in Letterkenny.
