BREAKING ... Two people reported missing on Lough Ree

Preliminary reports are coming in this evening of two people missing on Lough Ree.

The Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat was alerted at 3.20pm this afternoon after three men took a small boat out from Hodson Bay.

A short time later, one man was discovered in the water between Hodson Bay and Carna. He was later transferred to an ambulance at Hodson Bay and his condition at this stage is unknown.

The two others remain missing and a major rescue operation is now underway in the area. The Garda helicopter is believed to be assisting the RNLI in the search.