Updated: 12.00

A search has been called off in Co Kerry after a missing hillwaker was found.

He spent the night on the eastern McGillyCuddy Reeks after getting into difficulty at around 8.00pm on Tuesday.

He was found shortly before 11.00am on Wednesday morning.

He has since been been taken to University Hospital Kerry for treatment.

The Coastguard helicopter had reported an earlier sighting of a man descending the mountain, and were able to winch him up into the aircraft.

He had contacted gardaí on Tuesday night when he got into difficulty after his tent collapsed.

Alan Wallace is PRO with Kerry Mountain Rescue team.

"The rescue team sent five teams up around various combes and lakes in the mountain and we were assisted by the Shannon-based helicopter from the Irish Coastguard.

"We were able to identify a walker descending a ridge called The Bone towards the Hags Glen.

"Eventually the helicopter was able to winch this guy up into the helicopter.

"He is the guy that we were looking for, and he's been brought to Tralee Hospital - which is good news".

Speaking earlier, Mr Wallace said they had a vague description of the man's location.

"We attempted to find him last night and couldn't.

"We had coordinates which Valentia had given us from a triangulation of the 999 call - we searched that area, couldn't find him, but that was very late last night.

"That concluded at about 1am (in) difficult conditions."

"The communication with the guy was very limited yesterday - both in terms of just the quality of the coverage, and also his English didn't appear to be particularly good."

It followed a double-rescue on Ireland's largest mountain, Carrauntoohil, on Tuesday - where three people had to be dug out of deep snow and walked off the mountain in darkness.