Youghal RNLI have rescued a man found clinging to his kayak off Redbarn beach in Cork.

He was found clinging to his kayak this afternoon (Sunday 19 February) after he was in the sea off Redbarn beach for up to 45 minutes.

The volunteer crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 2pm after a member of Youghal Coast Guard who was driving past the beach at the time, observed what he thought to be someone in trouble in the water and raised the alarm. 

The lifeboat helmed by Patsy O’Mahony and with crew members John Griffin, Eddie Hennessy and Martin Morris onboard launched at 2.08pm and arrived on scene four minutes later.

The man had gotten into difficulty one mile from the beach which is approximately two and a half miles from Youghal Lifeboat Station.

On scene, the lifeboat crew observed the kayaker clinging to his board which he had fallen from. He had been unable to get back into the seat on top of the kayak and was immersed in the cold sea, for up to 45 minutes. 

Youghal RNLI rescues man found clinging to kayak off Redbarn beach in Cork https://t.co/rnftIJ9GmP #RespectTheWater #YoughalRNLI

— YoughalRNLI (@YoughalRNLI) February 19, 2017

The man was brought back to the lifeboat station where casualty care continued until a doctor from the East Cork Rapid Response unit arrived and took over. 

Speaking following the call out Derry Walsh, Youghal RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said "The kayaker who was wearing a lifejacket when he got into difficulty this afternoon, had been in the water for a long time before he was spotted and he was suffering from hypothermia when we reached him.

He finished by saying "Time was of the essence and I have no doubt that a life was saved."