A swimmer was rescued early on Thursday morning after becoming trapped in the water off Groomsport Beach in County Down.

The casualty had been in the sea for up to two hours when a member of the public raised the alarm. Bangor Coastguard shore unit reached the scene first and found the swimmer wedged between a large boulder and the sea wall.

Bangor RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat shortly after 7am following a request from Belfast Coastguard. Conditions included a north-easterly Force 4 wind, large breaking waves and a bouldery sea floor.

Crew member Gavin Mitchell entered the water to assist. Working with a Bangor Coastguard shore crew member, the pair used a rescue sled to move the swimmer from the wall to the beach.

The wider Bangor Coastguard shore team helped complete the extraction. The swimmer received care on shore before transfer to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

Gavin Mitchell said the operation required quick decisions under pressure and highlighted the value of multi-agency teamwork. He urged swimmers to avoid going alone, carry a means of communication and know how to float if in difficulty.