It was a well known Dublin Bay sailor who came to the rescue of a swimmer at the height of Storm Emma yesterday in the popular bathing spot of Sandycove in County Dublin.
As social media revealed, it was the quick thinking actions of Royal St. George Yacht Club member Philip Lee, a Dun Laoghaire resident, that led to the successful rescue at the storm lashed harbour, a location where the Coastguard had earlier urged people to stay out of the water.
Lee made a skilful and exceptionally long and accurate throw of the lifebuoy (see video below), enabling the woman swimmer to grab on to the line. Her location at the time of the incident was periously close to the harbour mouth where she risked being swept out to sea.
The footage posted on social media shows people rushing to help the woman.
The coastal road in Dun Laoghaire was closed due to high winds and flooding.
The gardaí confirmed the incident, stating that a few people took to the water during the code red weather alert.
The Coastguard have urged people to act responsibly and not to go swimming in any lakes, rivers or in the sea.