A surfer who got into difficulties in an offshore wind has been rescued off Garrettstown beach in west Cork.
The Courtmacsherry All Weather RNLI Lifeboat 'Val Adnams' was called to the scene at 11.35am, in difficult sea conditions.
The surfer's friend who was also surfing in the area raised the alarm.
The man was found drifting offshore at 12pm and was successfully brought aboard the lifeboat, according to a statement from the RNLI.
A separate local surfer gave him a bigger board to hold onto as he was blown out to sea, it said.
The lifeboat crew assessed the man and brought him back to Courtmacsherry Pier.
He was taken to the Lifeboat Station for a hot shower and a change of clothes.
The Old Head /Seven Heads Coast Guard unit coordinated the search on the shoreline.
Station Launch Authority Philip White said: "It was great to have 12 of our lifeboat crew arrive so quickly this morning as minutes mattered on a callout like this".
Mr White added that it was important that the rescue authorities were called so quickly to the incident.
