A man has been airlifted to hospital after he was injured in a surfing incident in West Clare this morning.
The alarm was raised at around 8.00am when the Irish Coast Guard received a report that a surfer had been involved in an accident in Ballard Bay south of Doonbeg.
The Kilkee unit of the Coast Guard and National Ambulance Service were alerted while the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter was also tasked to the scene.
A large group had gathered in the area to surf the well-known Riley’s Wave which can appear during periods of large swell, attracting surfers and body-boarders from all over the world.
It’s understood that the casualty sustained a head injury and was cared for by his companions until emergency services arrived.
A team of surf-rescue personnel on jet-skis were also on hand to provide support.
Rescue 115’s winchman/paramedic was winched down to the rocks below where the casualty was being looked after.
The man was flown to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
