A search is taking place off the south west coast for the American rock climber, Michael Reardon, who was swept out to sea yesterday evening.
Navy divers are hoping to dive at Valentia later today after an initial safety assessment.
Mr Reardon, who was 36, was due to return to the United States today. He had been in Ireland for the past month along with a photographer who was taking pictures of him climbing for an American magazine.
Con Moriarty, whose house Mr Reardon was staying in, said the famous climber was just standing on a ledge, west of Valentia Coast Guard Station when he was hit by a wave and then slipped.
He had completed a short climb just before he was struck by a wave. The alarm was raised shortly after 5pm yesterday. Mr Moriarty said he was unable to get himself out of the sea.
Mr Reardon's wife Marci and his 13-year-old daughter are on their way to Ireland and are set to arrive here tomorrow morning.
Mr Reardon is understood to be one of the leading free solo climbers in the world. The term applies to climbers who do not use equipment to scale great heights.
