A man from Oxford is missing at sea after he was spotted jumping from a ferry.

A major air sea rescue was launched after the 41-year-old man disappeared from a ferry off the coast of Wexford in Ireland.

The Stena Line Ferry had been travelling between Fishguard in Wales to Rosslare in Ireland.

A spokesman for the Garda, the Irish police, said: "A man was seen jumping overboard by two witnesses. Searches by a helicopter and lifeboat failed to locate the person."

The incident happened around seven miles off the Irish Coast.

Buddy Miller, honorary secretary of the Rosslare Lifeboat, which participated in the search, said: "Sadly his chances or survival are nil. If he had a lifejacket he could have survived for up to ten or 12 hours. I think a passenger threw a life ring after him. The lifeboat recovered that early on in the search.

"He was travelling with his father and mother."

He added that drink was not a factor in the incident.

Police have not yet released the man's name.

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