Gardaí say they’re in the process of liaising with the families of two men whose bodies were found off the coast of West Clare yesterday.
It’s understood that five men were fishing in Pulleen Bay at an area known as the Blue Pool between Kilkee and Doonbeg.
The alarm was raised at around 2.15pm on Tuesday, and the Kilkee and Doolin units of the Irish Coast Guard as well as the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter were tasked to the incident.
Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Kilkee station, the National Ambulance Service, Gardaí and search teams from Clare Civil Defence were also alerted and requested to respond.
The Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat was dispatched from its station at Kilronan and commenced a search of the area.
Sea conditions in the area at the time were said to be very challenging with a large swell and big waves.
At around 3.50pm, the crew of Rescue 115 located a body in the water north of where the man are believed to have been swept off the rocks.
Very soon afterwards, the helicopter crew spotted a second body in the water.
The lifeboat crew transported both bodies to Doolin where they were met by members of Doolin Coast Guard.
Both bodies were removed by hearse to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick where post mortem examinations will be carried out.
An Irish Coast Guard spokesperson said “The Coast Guard extends its sincere sympathy to the family of the two anglers who lost their lives today”.
An Garda Síochána are in the process of liaising with the families of both men.
