The Galway RNLI lifeboat rescued a kite surfer who became stranded between Hare Island and Rabbit Island off Ballyloughane beach on Saturday evening.
The alarm was raised about the man in trouble by a member of the public at 5pm and the Irish Coast Guard sought the RNLI’s help.
The man who is in his early 30s had set off from Ballyloughane beach at about 4.50 pm as the tide was going out.
While he was kite surfing, the man became tired after falling several times, and ended up getting blown onto Rabitt Island from where he was rescued by the Lifeboat crew at about 5.20pm.
The man who was not from the area was wearing a wetsuit but not a lifejacket.
Deputy Launch Authority Mike Cummins says a key factor when taking to the water for any water sports activities is a knowledge of the local tides and wind direction.
The volunteer crew on the callout were Helmsman Declan Killilea, Brian Niland, Joanne Casserly and David McGrath with shore crew Sean King and David Oliver.
