A swimmer was recovering after being rescued on Monday evening from a lake following a search that lasted over an hour and a half.
The rescue was made on Lough Rea in mid Co Galway and came just as hope was fading that the swimmer would be found.
The swimmer, believed to be a local woman in her early 40s, had gone into the water at a popular location during the warm evening. The lake has a lifeguard service.
The alarm was raised shortly after 7.30pm when the woman went missing.
Loughrea Fire Brigade and the other emergency services rushed to the scene, while the Irish Coast Guard Rescue 115 helicopter based at Shannon was tasked and joined the search.
The search initially took place on the eastern shore of the lake before being expanded as local people joined the search in an effort to locate the swimmer.
The search of the 260 hectare lake was expanded as darkness fell and hopes were fading.
But then the woman was located in the middle of the lake. Rescue services said she was struggling and very cold but not injured.
She was removed to a waiting ambulance on the shore where she received treatment and the search was stood down.