Two people have been airlifted to safety after getting into difficulty off Enniscrone in Co Sligo this evening.
The alarm was raised at around 7pm, after the current brought the two surfers out to sea.
Local kayakers and other surfers went to their assistance and the Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched to the scene.
2 surfers have been rescued by the Irish coastguard helicopter in Enniscrone this evening. It's understood they were caught in current & taken out to sea around 7pm. The alarm was raised by local surfers who were given a heroes welcome after helping to rescue @rtenews pic.twitter.com/ekUmut9Y20
— Ciaran Mullooly (@ciaranmullooly) September 5, 2020
One of those involved in the rescue effort, surfer Damien Kilgannon from Dromore West in Co Sligo, said the current had brought the two out to sea quite rapidly.
He said they had been carried past an area known as 'the break'.
Both are understood to be shaken but uninjured after their ordeal.
Mr Kilgannon paid tribute to the efforts of locals and the emergency services in monitoring and resolving the situation.
A large group of people watched the rescue effort unfold from the shoreline and applauded the local surfers involved on their return, shortly after 8.30pm.
