The local community in Kerry is in mourning after three friends lost their lives at sea.

The alarm was raised on Sunday when a member of the public saw an up-turned boat off the Coonanna Peninsula, near Cahersiveen, County Kerry.

Anatolijs Teivens (57), Jurijs Burcves (30) and Valerijs Klimentengvs (38) were originally from Latvia and had taken a boat out to go fishing off the south-west coast. 

The body of one man was found immediately as local police and emergency services launched a major search and rescue operation. 

The Latvian Embassy has confirmed that 3 men drowned in Cahirsiveen, #Kerry were from Latvia. The ambassador offered “heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the three men who have lost their lives during a tragic incident at sea.” @IrishMirror

— Niall O'Connor (@NI_ALLO) October 1, 2018

The remains of the two other men were recovered several hundred meters from the shoreline. According to the Irish Independent, the three men were wearing life-jackets when they were found.

The men are believed to be regular fishers.

Police are now carrying out an investigation alongside the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) and post-mortem examinations will be carried out on the bodies today.

Update: Three men who died off Kerry coast identified as Latvian nationals https://t.co/P9wLqqyT7y pic.twitter.com/GCT8OWzorn

— BreakingNews.ie (@breakingnewsie) October 1, 2018

An effort is underway to trace the last known movements of the three men before the freak accident occurred. 

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