A missing five-year-old boy sparked a huge panic on a crowded beach in Wexford yesterday.
Wexford RNLI had arrived on Curracloe Beach for training on Tuesday night when they were approached by a mother desperately looking for her young child.
The alarm was raised at 8.05pm and the volunteer lifeboat crew immediately began a shoreline search looking for the missing child.
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Members of the public also helped in the search, scouring the beach on the look out for the little boy, who was wearing an orange t-shirt.
Luckily, the missing boy was found just over 10 minutes later at the Winning Post shop and arcade at the Curracloe beach car park.
The Curracloe Coast Guard Unit and the Rescue 117 helicopter had also been put on standby as they prepared to conduct a wider search of the water but were stood down as soon as the boy was found.
In a Facebook post, Wexford RNLI wrote: "Wexford Lifeboat crew alerted to missing child as they arrived at Curracloe this evening at 20.05 and immediately alerted the Coast Guard and started a shoreline search while members of the public searched on land.
"Curracloe Coast Guard Unit and Rescue 117 were also being tasked and an off duty surf lifeguard also helped but all stood down when child was found at 20.13."
They continued: "If you see someone in difficulty on or near water ring 112/999 and ask for the Coast Guard."
Members of the public took to the comments to share their relief at the little boy being found with one writing: "Every parents [worst] nightmare, minutes seem like hours... thank god for a happy ending."
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