A kitesurfer was rescued off Dollymount beach in Dublin today after he got into difficulty and ended up with hypothermia.
A spokesman for the Howth RNLI lifeboat said it was called to help the man after he got his leg entangled in his gear.
He was found floating a quarter of a mile east of Bull Island.
The Coastguard requested the assistance of the RNLI after another kitesurfer raised the alarm from the shore.
The three voluntary lifeboat crew and the coastguard helicopter coordinated the search for the man from the Martello tower at Sutton.
“He was located using thermal imaging technology as it was dark by this point,” the RNLI said.
The lifeboat helmsman entered the water to cut the man loose from his gear. But conditions were made difficult by the offshore breeze and ebbing tide. The crew administered first aid and the man was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital.
Dave Howard, voluntary ILB helmsman for Howth said: “There was some difficulty in rescuing this man as we couldn’t see him in the dark.
“The RNLI recommends that when engaging in water sports of any kind that people should make themselves visible by wearing instruments like a personal strobe and by never going out unaccompanied. This man was lucky that we found him in time, it also highlights the need for the 24 hour search and rescue service that that RNLI provide.”