A multi-agency search for a man reported missing three days ago in the Giant’s Causeway area is continuing.
Lester McLennan, who travelled to Northern Ireland from the south of England with his mum, took a bus from Belfast to the area at approximately 9.30am on Friday November 1.
The coastguard, community rescue teams, police resources and Search and Rescue Dog Association Ireland North (SARDA) are working side by side to locate the missing 20-year-old.
The search began on Saturday morning and teams have continued to work in unison in the hopes of finding the man.
A coastguard helicopter was also deployed on Sunday morning in an attempt to aid the search.
Coleraine’s Community Rescue Service (CRS) has confirmed that, although weather conditions for the search appear to be good, daylight hours are limited. Despite this, rescue teams are continuing their efforts into the night.
A black backpack was reportedly found close to the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, and it was handed to staff members.
Police are asking for the individual who handed in the backpack to come forward so they can pinpoint exactly where it was found.
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A spokesperson from CRS said: “At the minute there’s different search teams involved spread out across the country. We’re searching areas that haven’t yet been done, spreading out a bit further every time.
“There is no indication at this moment and time where he might have gone other than the fact we do know that he made it to the Giant’s Causeway.
“We know he travelled from the south of England with his mother to Belfast, where he left to go up to the Giant’s Causeway for the day.”
The Giant’s Causeway is a popular tourist destination drawing in nearly 700,000 visitors in 2023. Due to the rugged nature of the terrain, its rocky outcrops can pose a risk to visitors taking the cliff top trail.
Coleraine CRS are advising members of the public to refrain from searching, adding that the involved rescue teams are fully equipped to handle the rough terrain.
“There are cliffs, water and land so it’s a mixed bag, however all of our guys and the search teams are very well experienced.
“The conditions are pretty good, we only have a limited amount of daylight but we will continue searching in the night.”
A spokesperson for the PSNI said: “Lester is a white male, 6’3” tall, of slim build with light brown hair and was wearing black glasses, light beige trousers with a dark belt, walking boots, a long grey coat to below the knee and a dark zip up jacket. Lester was also carrying a black backpack.”
“Officers are also keen to speak to the member of the public who located a black backpack in the area of the Giant’s Causeway and handed it to staff members there to contact them.”
“Police are appealing to Lester or anyone who may have seen him on 1st or 2nd November to contact them in Coleraine on 101, quoting reference number 76 02/11/24.”
News Catch Up – Monday 4th November