A MAJOR rescue operation was undertaken yesterday for a man in his 20s who sustained leg and ankle injuries in a surfing accident in Co Clare.
The man had been surfing with two others at Murragh reef between Kilkee and Donegal Point on the west coast of Clare.
The incident occurred just a short distance from the Blue Pool – one of the most treacherous areas of coastline in the country, where several fishermen and swimmers have perished in the past.
Rescuers were shocked to hear that people had begun surfing there and described the area as “deadly dangerous” and “too shallow for surfing”.
The alarm was raised at about 11.15am yesterday when a group of people observed three male surfers in water from the cliffs above.
When they realised that one of the men was in difficulty and could not reach the shore, they contacted the Irish Coast Guard.
Two of the surfers are understood to be from Lahinch. The third is believed to be from Sligo.
Kilkee Marine Rescue Service dispatched one boat to the scene and quickly recovered the injured man from the water.
The Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter airlifted him from the boat. The man is expected to be released today from Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, where he was taken by ambulance.
