Two men have died after falling into the sea in Co Clare while fishing on Tuesday.
The Irish Coast Guard said it was notified of the incident at 2.15pm at the Blue Pool in Pulleen Bay outside Doonbeg.
It is understood the deceased were fishing off the rocks at the time in an area linked to previous tragedies due to sea conditions.
A search was initiated with the Coast Guard helicopter R115 from Shannon, Kilkee Coast Guard Unit, Doolin Coast Guard Unit and the Aran Island Lifeboat on scene.
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“At approximately 4pm, the Coast Guard helicopter R115 located two bodies within the search area identified by MRSC Valentia, after which Aran Island Lifeboat recovered them from the sea as part of the co-ordinated operation,” it said in a statement.
Sea conditions were reported to be very rough at the scene.
“The Coast Guard extends its sincere sympathy to the family of the two anglers who lost their lives today. An Garda Síochána are in the process of liaising with the families of both men.”
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Rita McInerney described the situation as “a huge tragedy” and expressed her “deepest sympathies to the families of the people involved”.
She said the area had been “the scene of quite a number of tragedies in the past” due to “rogue waves”.
“It’s a popular fishing spot in some ways, but it is notoriously dangerous. It has claimed lives in the past, unfortunately.”
The spot is popular for cliff fishing because of the deep water, she told Morning Ireland on Wednesday.
McInerney said the site is on private land and was gated and that anyone who accessed it had to open a gate - causing the landowners to be very anxious.
There was already a plaque at the site to commemorate a person who drowned there, but people did not heed signs and there was a need to get the message out the area was not safe, she added.
It was not used by locals who knew of the risks and as a result they were reluctant to give directions when asked, she said. “People need to be mindful and heed local knowledge.”
John Draper of the Valentia Marine Rescue Coordination Centre said treacherous conditions on Tuesday, with waves hitting the tops of the cliffs, meant the chances of survival had been limited for the two men.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland, the centre’s divisional controller said a call had been received that two anglers had been swept off the rocks at the Blue Pool, close to Doonbeg.
The watch officer in Valentia called the Coast Guard helicopter from Shannon, the RNLI, and the Kilkee and Doonbeg Coast Guard. Gardaí were also on the scene, as well as the fire service and some units of civil defence.
Draper acknowledged there may have been some initial confusion over the location of the incident – which may have been due to language difficulties – but said there were no delays once rescuers were on the scene.
“We understand that the sea conditions really were extremely turbulent at the base of the cliff ... the chances of survival were certainly limited in that scenario there.”
There are a number of “risky” areas along that stretch of coastline popular with anglers, so people need to take precautions, he said. Safety messages will be repeated this weekend, he added.
