Updated 12.20pm

THE COAST GUARD rescued four people in three separates incidents at a beach in Wicklow earlier this afternoon.

The coast guard was first informed at 3.20pm after a woman was reportedly swept into a cave at Silver Strand, south of Wicklow Head, and a local RNLI lifeboat dispatched.

After locating her with the assistance of a member of the public, a lifeboat crewman swam into the cave and rescued the woman.

Hypothermia

She was found to be suffering from mild hypothermia, but was otherwise unharmed.

Arrangements were made to transport the woman to hospital by ambulance once back on shore.

In a subsequent incident, a woman and a child were rescued from rocks.

They had initially tried to assist in locating the woman who had been swept into the cave, but had been injured.

After the RNLI lifeboat returned to to the scene, the Dublin Coast Guard helicopter was brought in to winch them to safety, and both were brought to hospital.

Unharmed

The woman was suffering from shock and hypothermia. The child was unharmed.

Finally, another member of the public who had come to the assistance of the initial casualty had become unwell.

“Due to the lack of access for an ambulance the Coxswain requested the casualty be transferred by lifeboat and was taken ashore and met by ambulance,” a statement from the RNLI read.

“It is very easy for people to get themselves into difficulty while they are at the beach and the rescue services are trained and available to deal with these situations,” Wicklow RNLI Operations Manager Des Davitt said.

Meanwhile, a man was taken from the water at Duncannon in Co Wexford at around 7pm.

His condition has not yet been confirmed.

Originally published 9.01pm

Earlier: Two divers die in west Cork diving accident >