Donegal woman gets hypothermia from sea swim prompting warnings from RNLI

Stephen Maguire

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Co Donegal has issued a warning to swimmers after a woman received horrific injuries after suffering from hypothermia while in a for a sea dip.

The woman suffered multiple cuts and bruises after becoming disorientated while swimming in Lough Swilly.

She had stayed in the water longer than normal as she was searching for her partner on the shore.

The woman was an experienced swimmer but her body temperature dropped quickly as hypothermia set in.

She became confused as she searched for her partner and came ashore in an unusual area cutting her legs on brambles and rocks.

The woman's partner eventually found her and she received immediate medical attention.

She shared a photo of her injuries with Lough Swilly RNLI in the hope of alerting others to the dangers of when hypothermia strikes.

The Lough Swilly RNLI urged people to take extra care if they decide to go swimming during the current cold snap.

"We would urge the public to be careful in the sea, especially during this cold snap," it said.