Kitesurfers safe

Two men have been found safe and well after they got in to difficulty while kitesurfing off the coast of Co Clare.

A search and rescue operation was launched at around 3.45pm after the pair were reported to have suffered problems with their equipment and were left drifting in rough seas.

The Aran Islands RNLI Lifeboat and the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard were alerted and mobilised to the scene, as was the Shannon-based rescue helicopter.

The kiters, a Polish national and a man from Limerick, managed to make it ashore.

They were assessed by medics but did not require hospital treatment.