The body of a woman has been recovered from the sea off the coast in Donegal.

A search and rescue operation took place after it was reported that a woman had entered the water on the Fanad peninsula, Co Donegal on Tuesday evening.

Several rescue services, including the coastguard and RNLI, as well as a Rescue 118 helicopter, participated in the search.

Shortly after 8pm, the body of the woman was recovered. It has been reported that the woman was walking near the Great Pollet Sea Arch in Fanad with a relative when she fell.

The body of the woman, believed to be on holiday in the area, was removed to Letterkenny University Hospital. A post-mortem is expected to take place in due course.

‘Marine Rescue Sub-Centre at Malin coordinated a search and rescue operation off the Fanad peninsula, Co. Donegal this evening. The operation commenced at approx. 17:00hrs,’ a statement from the Department of Transport read.

‘The search concluded around 20:00hrs following the recovery of a body by Irish Coast Guard personnel. The Coast Guard extends their sympathy to the family at this time of sadness.’