Member of Irish Coast Guard dies following Kilkee accident

Tragedy in Kilkee as coast guard boat overturns

A member of the Irish Coast Guard has died following an accident in Kilkee - Picture @timmydooley

A member of the Irish Coast Guard has died after the RIB she was travelling in overturned during a search operation in Kilkee this afternoon.

A male member who was stranded in a cave for several hours was airlifted to safety this evening while a third member of the crew is being treated at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) where her condition is understood to be serious.

The three members of the coast guard unit, which is based at Kilkee, were involved in an ongoing search operation for a missing local man when their RIB overturned in a heavy swell at around 2pm.

A major search operation was immediately launched with the Shannon-based R115 and Waterford-based R117 helicopters providing assistance.

A number of investigations are expected to launched following the incident.