Bernard Donnelly said he was glad Shane had survived

Colin Donnelly, 30, has not been seen since his boat sank on Wednesday.

His friend and crewmate Shane Murnaghan, 28, was taken to hospital on the Isle of Man after being found on a life raft on Thursday.

Bernard Donnelly said he was glad Shane had survived: "My son didn't make it to the life raft, but it is better to have one than have lost two.

"I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Shane is a member of my family - we are just all one family - though we are not related, but we are related in every other way.

"He is a friend and a colleague and I am so glad for the Murnaghan family to have their son home again."

Henry and Rita Murnaghan's son Shane was rescued

He also praised the efforts of those who had taken part in the rescue operation.

The two life-long friends had been fishing for crabs off the coast of Kilkeel when their 11-metre boat, Emerald Dawn, sank on Wednesday.

The cause of the tragedy is still unclear.

Mr Murnaghan was winched to safety by a helicopter after being found by a freight ferry nine miles south-east of the Isle of Man.

He had been adrift for about 20 hours and was conscious but suffering from hypothermia.

On Thursday evening, coastguard Judith McNeice said there was "no hope left" that Mr Donnelly could be alive after more than 24 hours in the water.

From his bed in Noble's Hospital, Douglas, Mr Murnaghan described seeing his friend seconds before he himself climbed to safety.

He said: "I don't know what happened. The boat just went and when the life raft went off I swam to it.

"I saw Colin and he had a life jacket on.

"When I got into the life raft I turned around and Colin was gone."

'Life and soul'

Mr Murnaghan's mother Rita said she had spoken to her son by telephone on Thursday and he was very weak.

She said: "He just told me that he does not know what happened and all he is worried about is Colin."

"I know we have got Shane back but Colin was the life and soul of our house."

Mr Murnaghan's sister and girlfriend travelled to the Isle of Man to be with him.

He was discharged from hospital on Friday afternoon and was expected to return home later.