Emergency services praised after 35 rowers rescued on Lough Derg

The Medical Director of the National Ambulance Service has praised emergency workers after last night's major rescue on Lough Derg.

35 people were brought to safety after their rowing boats got into difficulty during a regatta.

18 vessels were racing on the Shannon from Dromineer to Killaloe .

15 people needed treatment at the scene for shock and hypothermia - a further five people who had gone missing were found safe and well on Lough Derg's Crow Island.

The Coastguard, fire brigade, ambulance crews, Gardaí and marine search and rescue crews all attended the scene and Dr Cathal O'Donnell said that many of them were volunteers.

"Very proud and privileged to work with these people, our paramedics are trained to respond to all manners of emergencies, illness, and injury," he said.

"Many of the coastguard and RNLI who are volunteers who don’t get paid, and I think that's a tremendous thing do that on a voluntary basis."