Swimmer rescued from Irish Sea in middle of winter storms
Gardai have appealed for people not to go swimming in the sea or in rivers or lakes during the extreme weather.
A swimmer had to be rescued from the sea off the Dublin coast in the midst of the worst winter storms to hit the country in more than 30 years.
An onlooker who was at the scene in Sandycove, south Co Dublin, when the incident happened said she was shocked to see a woman entering the water in such severe weather conditions.
A red alert weather warning is in operation in Dublin, Kildare, Wexford, Wicklow and Meath until 9am on Saturday.
The bystander, who did not want to be named, said she was not sure whether the woman had intended swimming out further or just got dragged beyond the harbour wall, which was when onlookers started to go to the swimmer’s aid.
“I took pics as I was shocked but then started to record before all hell broke loose,” she said.
The bystander said people who witnessed the rescue were very angry that others had to go to the woman’s aid.
Gardai have appealed for people not to go swimming in the sea or in rivers or lakes during the extreme weather.
The Garda had closed the coastal road in Dun Laoghaire on Friday due to high winds and flooding.
