#Ophelia - Windsurfers on the Louth coast have been roundly criticised on social media as they prompted a major rescue operation before the arrival of Storm Ophelia, as TheJournal.ie reports.
The four windsurfers, originally thought to be kitesurfers, made their own way to shore after getting 'into difficulty' this morning — but not before Clogherhead RNLI, Greenore Coast Guard and the Dublin-based Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter had launched to their location, off Blackrock in Dundalk Bay.
The Irish Coast Guard has repeated widespread calls to stay away from the coast during the current storm conditions throughout Ireland.
2 kite surfers safely escorted to shore with @GreenoreCG, @ClogherheadRNLI, Rescue116 and local Garda present@TOTTDundalk @rtenews pic.twitter.com/fss1F91cVx
— Carlingford (@CarlingfordIRE) October 16, 2017
This article was changed to correct an error in the number of windsurfers involved in this morning's incident.