A YOUNG WOMAN HAS died after falling from a cliff in Co Clare this afternoon.

It’s understood that the woman, a college student, had been visiting the Cliffs of Moher with three friends when she lost her footing and fell. The group are believed to be of different nationalities and not based in Ireland.

The alarm was raised at around 1.20pm and a major search and rescue operation was mounted by watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry.

Members of the Doolin unit of the Coast Guard and Gardaí responded to the location while the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter was also tasked. Rescue 115 was already in the air and on its way to the Aran Islands for a training exercise when the crew was requested to proceed to the incident. The helicopter reached the search area within minutes.

The Aran Islands RNLI all-weather lifeboat was tasked to assist with the operation while units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennistymon station were also dispatched to the scene. Members of Clare Civil Defence drone team were requested to be ready to respond to assist with the search if needed, but were later stood down.

A search of the area was carried out and a body was quickly located. The crew of the Aran Island lifeboat recovered the body from the water and transported the remains to Doolin Pier where local Coast Guard volunteers and Gardaí were waiting.

The body was then taken to Doolin Coast Guard station where the woman was formally pronounced dead.

The body is expected to be transported by hearse to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination is to be carried out.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Gardaí and emergency services conducted an operation following reports of an incident at the Cliffs Moher this afternoon. The body of a woman, aged in her early 20s, was removed from the water by emergency services. Her body remains at the scene.”

The Cliffs of Moher stand 702ft (214m) at their highest point and around 390ft (120m) at their most southern end at Hags Head close to where today’s tragedy occurred.

In January 2019, a 26-year-old Indian national fell to his death while taking selfies and the world famous tourist attraction.

In June 2007, a Hungarian man in his 20s died after he fell to his death at the Cliffs of Moher. It’s understood that the man, who had been visiting friends in Ireland for the summer, was taking photos at the time.