A swimmer was rescued on Sunday night after clothes had been found on a beach in Co Kerry earlier in the day.
A volunteer lifeboat crew from Fenit RNLI found the swimmer after spotting a pod of dolphins two and a half miles off Castlegregory beach at 8:30 pm.
Fenit RNLI and Rescue 115 were tasked with searching for a swimmer at 12:40 pm on Sunday following the discovery of clothes on the beach.
Conditions were excellent with calm waters and a low tide. With nothing found and no further information, the search was stood down in the afternoon.
At the request of An Garda Siochana, the search was reactivated at 6 pm with two lifeboats searching the original area and the bay nearer to Tralee. The search was joined by Rescue 115 overhead.
At 8:30 pm, volunteer lifeboat crew with Fenit RNLI spotted a pod of dolphins and a head above the water near Castlegregory beach.
The casualty was conscious and was taken to hospital.
It is not known how long the swimmer had been in the water.
Commenting on the rescue, Fenit RNLI lifeboat Operations Manager Gerard O’Donnell said: “After a long and exhaustive search, members of the lifeboat crew were overjoyed to sight the missing swimmer in the water.
“They had been scanning the water for any sign of movement and were worried with light fading that they would not find anyone.
“Even at this time of year, the water can be very cold and as yet we don’t know how long this person was in the water and when they entered it.
“When the lifeboat crew found them, they were a good distance from the shore and were exhausted.”
O’Donnell added: “We would advise that anyone undertaking a swim lets people know where they are going and when they are expected back.
“This was a very lucky individual.”
