LAST UPDATE | 17 Aug 2019

A MAN HAS died after getting into difficulty while swimming off the Clare coast this morning.

The man, aged 71, was swimming in Kilkee Bay when he was reported to be in difficulty shortly after 10am.

He was airlifted to University Hospital Limerick in a critical condition and was later pronounced dead, gardaí have confirmed.

It is understood that the man lived in Limerick and was a regular visitor to Kilkee.

Officers at the Irish Coast Guard marine rescue sub-centre on Valentia Island in Kerry were alerted to the incident this morning and mounted a multi-agency search and rescue operation.

The local unit of the Coast Guard responded, along with Clare County Fire and Rescue Service personnel from Kilkee, gardaí and National Ambulance Service paramedics.

Local lifeguards also went to the scene, as did the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115.

The man was taken from the water on the western side of Kilkee Bay in an area known as Newfoundout. It’s understood that he was brought ashore by passersby and Coast Guard volunteers who carried out CPR before he was brought to hospital.