A man has been airlifted to hospital in Dublin after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea this morning.

The man aged in his late 50s swam out from the Forty Foot area on the south side of the city.

A member of the public raised the alarm with the coastguard at 9:35am - and a lifeboat, helicopter and land based unit were sent to the scene.

Before they reached the man, a member of the public swam out to him and managed to bring him ashore.

The coastguard then winched him on board their helicopter and transferred him to Tallaght Hospital.

He is said to be suffering from hypothermia.