Teenagers rescued from lough

Two teenage girls were rescued from Lough Derg today after their boat got into difficulties.

The RNLI lifeboat was launched at 3pm after a report of distressed youths swimming in the lough, near Williamstown Harbour in Co Clare.

The girls and two others, on holiday in Ireland from overseas, lost control of their rowing boat and drifted out of sight into reeds.

They were stranded for several hours and decided to swim into the lough to raise the alarm, leaving an adult and another teenager on board the boat.

A passing cruiser picked up them both and alerted the RNLI.

The lifeboat crew recovered the girls from the cruiser and quickly located their two companions who were safe and unharmed.

All four were taken to Williamstown harbour where their family had been about to launch a search.