A photographer has died after falling off rocks and into the sea at Fanad Lighthouse off the coast of Co Donegal.
The man, understood to be in his 60s and from Co Antrim, was taking photographs at the time when he slipped and lost his footing. He fell onto rocks and became trapped in a gulley at the bottom of the cliffs.
Another person on the scene contacted Malin Head Coast Radio station at 2.42pm. A full rescue mission was launched with two lifeboats from the Lough Swilly RNLI at Buncrana as well as the Mulroy Coastguard and the Rescue 118 helicopter from Sligo were launched. Two other local fishing boats, the Mary Ellen and the Annie, who were also in the area, rushed to the scene.
The rescue boats could not get to the casualty because of a Force 7-8 gale blowing north-westerly towards the shore. The rescue team managed to keep a visual on the man throughout the rescue but could not determine his injuries.
The Mulroy Coastguard boat eventually managed to extract the casualty and took him to shore where the Rescue 118 chopper took him to Letterkenny General Hospital.
CPR was performed at the scene. However the man was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital.
A spokesman for Malin Head Radio coastguard said conditions were very bad at the time of the incident, with heavy seas and gale force winds. He appealed to people to take extra care when walking or exploring the coastline.
Fanad Lighthouse is one of a number of lighthouses around the country which has received a renovation and development grant and is due to open to the public next year.
Local newspaper editor John McAteer, from the Tirconail Tribune, lives next to the lighthouse. He said the conditions on the coast today were very dangerous.
“This was a particularly difficult task for the rescue services as it was blowing a gale. “The conditions were almost impossible to work in and the fact that they even got to the casualty is a testament to their professionalism.
“It highlights the dangers of walking the coastline and going exploring on cliffs. The conditions can change in the blink of an eye.”