Three hospitalised after recreational rubber dinghy capsizes in Killiney Bay

The Coast Guard helicopter and two Dún Laoghaire RNLI lifeboats were involved in the dramatic rescue of four people earlier this afternoon.

Updated 10.11pm

THREE PEOPLE WERE winched aboard the Coast Guard helicopter and taken to hospital after the rubber dinghy they were travelling in capsized off Killiney.

The alarm was raised at around 2pm after one person swam to shore. Two others clung to a buoy, while a fourth person was unaccounted for.

The Coast Guard helicopter and two RNLI lifeboats from the Dún Laoghaire station were called to the scene. The helicopter spotted the missing fourth person in the water and winched them aboard, while the two clinging to the buoy were pulled onto the lifeboats.

The pair were then also winched onto the helicopter and all three, believed to be men in their twenties, were transferred to Tallaght Hospital for treatment for shock and hypothermia.

Dave Brannigan, spokesperson for the RNLI told TheJournal.ie that the four appeared to be travelling in a rubber dinghy more suitable for use in a swimming pool.

TheJournal.ie reader James Pelow captured this image of the Coast Guard helicopter assisting in the rescue today

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