Man rescued off Kerry coast, 'lifejacket saved his life'

By Sean Ryan

A life boat service in County Kerry has rescued a man who had fallen into the sea near Dursey Island while fishing.

The man’s daughter is said to have raised the alarm and Valentia Coastguard tasked Shannon Rescue Helicopter 115, Castletownbere RNLI and Coastguard Unit and Derrynane Inshore Rescue at approximately 12.30pm today.

The man who was in his late fifties had been wearing a life-jacket and Derrynane Inshore Rescue managed to retrieve the man from the water at 1.15pm.

He was said to be suffering from hypothermia and shock, was brought to Cork University Hospital by helicopter.

Speaking about the rescue David O’Mahoney of Derrynane Inshore Rescue said ''wearing a life-jacket while fishing saved the man’s life''.

He also stressed that ''many lives could be saved if anglers, when fishing from rocks, followed this example''.