Young paddleboarder blown out to sea rescued in Clare

Pat Flynn

A search and rescue operation was mounted off the west Clare coast this afternoon after a young female paddleboarder got into difficulty.

Emergency services were alerted at around 4:30pm when it was reported that a young female paddleboarder was unable to return to shore at White Strand, Miltown Malbay because of strong winds which were dragging her out to sea.

Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry promptly mounted a multi-agency search and rescue operation.

The Doolin unit of the Coast Guard was alerted while the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter was also dispatched to the scene. Rescue 115 had been training on the Aran Islands when the crew was alerted and tasked. The helicopter reached the scene at White Strand in less than 10 minutes.

It is understood that the young girl’s father had tried to swim out to help her but was unable to reach her. He is believed to have gotten 'a good distance out' but according to one emergency services worker, 'she kept getting pulled out by the wind.' It's believe she was caught by an offshore breeze.

Two members of the public then entered the water and helped bring the father and daughter ashore.

Rescue 115 arrived at the scene at around the same time and landed nearby. The helicopter's paramedic assessed the girl and who was later handed into the care of the HSE’s National Ambulance Service.

Just as Doolin Coast Guard team was about to launch its rescue boat, they were notified that the paddleboarder had been located and were stood down.

Clare County Fire and Rescue Service swift water rescue technicians (SRTs) were mobilised from Ennis station.

It is understood that crews attached to the nearest station at Ennistymon were attending another incident at the time and were unable to respond to the White Strand.

Clare Civil Defence also mobilised volunteers to the incident to assist in the operation but were also stood down when it was confirmed the casualty had been located.