Two surfers who got into difficulty off the coast of Donegal were plucked from the sea in a dramatic airlift by the Rescue 118 helicopter.
The incident happened off Rossnowlagh Beach yesterday afternoon.
The chopper was backed up by members of Bundoran RNLI who also got the call to action.
Just after 3:35pm a number of 999 emergency calls were made to Malin Head Coast Guard from passers-by on Rossnowlagh Beach who had heard calls for help coming from the water.
The Bundoran RNLI crew, aboard the “William Henry Liddington” inshore lifeboat, launched minutes later and made their way to the scene.
The rescue took place in choppy conditions and a force 5 westerly wind.
The RNLI vessel arrived to the surfers at 4pm. However, the men had already been lifted from the water by the Sligo based Rescue 118 helicopter which had also been tasked to help.
They were brought back to land where they were attended to by members of the National Ambulance Service.
Helm of the Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Elliot Kearns, speaking on returning to the station, emphasised the importance of being aware of the surf and potential hazards.
He said “We would like to commend the Rescue 118 crew for their swift action in bringing the two men to safety.
“We would always advise water users to be aware of the sea conditions, particularly rip currents. If you find yourself caught in a rip, don’t try to swim against it, instead swim to the left or the right to get free of it.’
Sea Safety advice, including what to do if you get caught in a rip current, is available on www.rnli.org
