A man has been declared dead after he was airlifted to hospital following a swimming incident off Kilkee this morning.
The man, believed to be in his 60s, was swimming in Kilkee Bay when he was reported to be in difficulty shortly after 10.00am.
Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard centre on Valentia Island in Kerry were alerted soon afterwards and mounted a multi-agency search and rescue operation.
The local unit of the Irish Coast Guard responded to the incident along with Clare County Fire and Rescue Service personnel from Kilkee, Gardaí and National Ambulance Service (NAS) paramedics. Local lifeguards also went to the scene, it’s understood.
The Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115, was also tasked to the incident
The man was taken from the water on the western side of Kilkee Bay in an area known as Newfoundout. It’s understood he was brought ashore by passers-by and Coast Guard volunteers.
The man was later airlifted from the scene to University Hospital Limerick where Gardaí say he was later declared dead.
Officers from Roxboro Road station in Limerick City are dealing with the tragedy and will prepare a file for the coroner who will hold an inquest at a future date.
Emergency services personnel involved in the incident attended a debriefing meeting at Kilkee Coast Guard station afterwards.
The Coast Guard has also expressed gratitude to the members of the public and local lifeguards who assisted at the incident.
