A sea and cliff rescue service has warned against cliff jumping after a dramatic rescue in Co Kerry late yesterday. One man in his early 20s was airlifted to the Midwest Regional Hospital in Limerick with suspected spinal injuries and two others were removed to Kerry General Hospital by ambulance after being rescued at the cliffs at Ballybunion.
The young men, from the UK, had been cliff jumping or cliff diving at an area known as Clancy's quarry, north of the popular Nuns' beach in Ballybunion, reported Anne Lucey in the Irish Times. They were diving up to 25m (80ft) when one got into trouble when he hit the water awkwardly. He managed to climb nine metres to a ledge but found himself in diffulty. His two companions dived in to help him and were suffering from hypothermia, said rescuers. A fourth man suffered minor injuries.
Valentia Coast Guard, which coordinated the complex rescuew, received an ameergency call at 5.15pm. The area is inaccessible other than by water and Valentia tasked the Shannon-based helicopter and the local coast guard and sea and cliff rescue services.
