A breakfast-time prank by three partygoers prompted a massive search and rescue operation by the emergency services after it was feared that the three men had drowned. Gardai, firemen, boat crews and sub-aqua units were scrambled on Saturday morning after three men were spotted jumping into the River Corrib. The three young men were seen jumping from the Quincentenary Bridge into the freezing river shortly before 9am.

A frantic search involving three units of Galway Fire Brigade, Gardaí and sub-aqua units was launched amid fears that the three had drowned. Rowing coaches used their launches in a bid to locate the three men in a section of water between the bridge and the Salmon Weir. The Weir was closed at the time, so the men would not be swept out to sea if they were in the water.

The rescue was called off after an intensive search of the river between the Quincentenary Bridge and the Salmon Weir. The alarm was raised when motorists spotted the three young men - two of them stripped to their underpants - were seen jumping into the river at about 8.50 yesterday morning.

The third man was fully clothed when he dived from the bridge into the swollen river. It is believed that they were returning from all-night party when they decided to go for a swim.

"They would not have lasted long in that water but it seems that they managed to get out before we arrived," said a member of Galway Fire Brigade.

The emergency services feared that the three had perished but the search was called off after an hour and a half.

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