A swimmer was rescued by off the coast of North County Dublin after he was spotted in difficulty in the water. 

The man was clinging to a marker buoy one kilometre from shore when he was seen by a ferry off the Howth coast yesterday evening.

He had been swimming on Burrow Beach and then decided to swim out to Ireland's Eye where he got into difficulty.

The Adam Patricia ferry took the swimmer on board and alerted the Coast Guard unit from Howth which was sent to meet the ferry.

File photo of Howth Harbour in Dublin, 02-03-2021. Image: The Irish Image Collection/Zuma Press/PA Images

Its crew took the tourist in his 20s who had been in the water for two hours to its local station.

The man was suffering from severe hypothermia and was then taken to Beaumont Hospital.

Howth Coast Guard is warning people long distance swimming without proper precautions is not recommended.

Anyone who sees anyone in trouble on or close to the water should call 999 or 111 and ask for the Coast Guard. 

Main image: The Irish Coast Guard. Image: Irish Coast Guard