Howth Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) went to the aid of a kitesurfer who was in difficulty off Dollymount beach this afternoon.

The French national had gotten his leg entangled in his gear and was found floating a quarter of a mile east of Bull Island.

The Coast Guard requested the assistance of the RNLI after another kitesurfer raised the alarm from the shore.
 
The three voluntary Lifeboat crew (who are all family), and the Coast Guard 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 ILB helmsman then entered to water in order to cut the kitesurfer loose from his gear.

Conditions were made difficult by the offshore breeze and ebbing tide. 
 
The RNLI volunteers then administered first aid to the casualty who was suffering from hypothermia.

They landed on the beach and after assessment it was decided to transfer the man to Beaumont hospital by ambulance rather than helicopter.
 
Dave Howard, voluntary ILB helmsman for Howth says, “there was some difficulty in rescuing this man as we couldn’t see him in the dark.

At dusk tonight, 16:25, volunteers at Howth Coast Guard Unit were requested to assist in the recovery of a casualty from the sea at Dollymount beach, Dublin. The casualty had been kitesurfing and become tangled in the lines of the kite.

With darkness fast approaching and unable to return to shore, on-lookers at the scene alerted the Coast Guard.

Howth Coast Guard responded with a full coastal search team at Dollymount and Sutton Creek. At 17:11 the casualty was located by the thermal imaging aboard Rescue Helicopter 116 and recovered by Howth Inshore Lifeboat.

The casualty was transported by the D-Class boat to Howth Coast Guard members on the beach who assisted the casualty until an ambulance handover was available.

Howth Lifeboat issued a statement to the Irish Times and gave advice worth repeating:

“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 the RNLI provide.”

A kitesurfer sustained multiple broken bones, a Larchville resident was provided with temporary accommodation and a motorist had a miraculous escape from serious injury as a ‘mini tornado’ wreaked havoc in the city and county last Saturday.

A Tramore businessman, who had been kite surfing with four friends, was whipped into the air and catapulted up the beach, over a small promenade wall and smashed into the surround of skateboard park.

The man, who has not been named but who is known to be in his late 40s and married with a family, had been emerging from the water when the tornado struck.

A chance encounter with a pod of orca whales provided a special thrill for Raglan kite surfer Matt Taggart last weekend.

A normal Saturday afternoon turned into a memorable moment for Mr Taggart when a pod of five or six orcas, including a mother and calf, came close to shore in search of stingray.

"A couple of the local guys, Olly and Keith, noticed them and said `come on, get back out there' ... to be honest I was bricking it. I know them as killer whales and I thought no way am I going out there with killer whales," Mr Taggart said.

"But I went out and was taking it quite carefully when the mother popped up right in front of me.

"I never thought I would ever do that ... it was crazily intense. She was literally metres away."

Mr Taggart was out on the water with the orcas for about 15 minutes, but lack of wind meant it was difficult to stay with them.

"I was just trying to enjoy the moment. I was absolutely blown away.

"They came through so quickly ... I guess I was fortunate to be there at the right moment."

Locals had told him orcas came in close to shore to flush out stingray before circling and eating them.

"I'm chuffed. I'm stoked I got out there. It would have been easy not to, but I'm glad I did."

Originally from England, Mr Taggart has made his home in Raglan since January after marrying a Kiwi girl.