A man, aged in his 40s, has been rescued after a 'freak wave' trapped him overnight in a cave off the Mayo coast.
He spent almost 22 hours on a ledge in a sea cave at Downpatrick Head after being swept in and cut off during high tide at 6pm on Saturday.
Rescuers had been checking in on the man every half an hour but had been unable to reach him until the tide began to go out on Sunday afternoon.
READ MORE 'Freak wave' traps man in cave off Irish coast with huge rescue operation underway
The man is believed to have been in good spirits following his rescue but was taken to Sligo University Hospital for medical assessment.
Agatha Hurst, Ballyglass RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, said that there was a "huge sigh of relief" when news reached the local community that the man had been rescued.
“We are absolutely ecstatic," she told Newstalk. "There was a huge big sigh of relief that passed through the crowd fairly quickly when the good news started to come through that he had been rescued.
“Everybody’s just so happy that he was brought to safety and all the different agencies that came together was just phenomenal."
A woman was also trapped along with the man. The pair had been walking when a freak wave surge pulled them into the water.
The woman was able to be rescued by kayakers but conditions halted efforts to save the stranded man.
Emergency services remained at the scene overnight to attempt the rescue including the Coast Guard, gardai, the garda sub aqua unit, firefighters and the local Civil Defence among others.
A statement from Gardai said: "Gardaí and emergency services can confirm that this man (aged in his 40s) trapped in the caves at Downpatrick Head, Co. Mayo has been located safely this afternoon Sunday 18th September, 2022.
"He was rescued by the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation, and assisted by the Achill Coast Guard Cliff Recuse Team, RNLI, Civil Defence, R118 and local members of An Garda Síochána and members of the Garda Water Unit Team. He has been removed to Sligo University Hospital for treatment and assessment.
"An Garda Síochána would like to express its thanks to the local community who assisted in the care and feeding of all the rescue personnel who attended the area over the past number of days. We would also continue to advise all persons who enter into caves or go hillwalking etc around the country to ensure they do so safely and have the correct equipment with them. Please always tell someone where you are going and keep in contact."
Michael Hurst, Ballyglass Coastguard, told the Independent that from what he knows the pair were "kayaking in the area and decided on low water to walk around the cliffs."
He says this is possible on very low water but that a "freak wave" pulled them in, pulling the man right to the back of the funnel cave.
It is understood the man managed to shelter three metres high inside the cave and so was able to remain out of danger from the rising water.
However, the area of Downpatrick Head proved treacherous for rescuers who waited for low tide on Sunday to be able to make a safe rescue.
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