Malin Head Coastguard has been praised for its involvement in the recovery of the body of a missing diver off the coast of Arranmore Island at the weekend.

Ann Haudred (41), a single woman from Manchester in England, got into difficulties while diving at Saturday lunchtime. Her body was recovered at 10.00 a.m. the following day.

The deceased was one of a party of seven who had spent the day diving about a quarter of a mile from Arranmore lighthouse. An extensive search was launched after Malin Head Coastguard received a call that she had got into difficulty while re-surfacing.

Coordinated by  Malin Head Coastguard, those involved included the Arranmore lifeboat, Sligo and Dublin Coastguard helicopters, Bunbeg search and rescue units and up to 17 boats from the area, including the local ferry. Two diving units from Dundalk, who were in the area, also took part.

The search was called off at 11.00 p.m. but resumed at 5.30 a.m. and Ms. Body was found on the seabed at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday close to where she went missing. Her remains were removed to Letterkenny General Hospital for a post-mortem after being brought to the surface by the Sheephaven Sub Aqua Diving Club.

Nora Flanagan, of the Arranmore RNLI lifeboat, said the operation took some time as the divers had to acclimatise at different levels.

Paying tribute to all those who assisted in the search she stressed the Malin Head Coastguard played a vital role in the operation.

She said: “The Malin Head Coastguard provided invaluable assistance in co-ordinating the search which was a huge operation involving many people from the area and the diving club.”

It was the second time in a week that the Inishowen-based coastguard coordinated a major search operation. The previous Monday it was involved in the search and recovery of Brian McDaid, the 13-years-old schoolboy who drowned in the River Foyle close to his home in St. Johnston.