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A swimmer who struggled off the coast of Co Galway this morning was rescued by two fishermen who were honored by another dramatic rescue at sea in August.
Father and son Patrick and Morgan Oliver came to the aid of the Salthill man this morning, with the help of the Galway RNLI lifeboat.
He was seen clinging to rocks 200 meters from shore and taken to safety.
They were recognized for their bravery last month after they rescued paddle surfers Sara Feeney, 23, and Ellen Glynn, 17, over the summer.
The two cousins had been stranded at sea overnight after drifting away from shore.
The Olivers also gained national attention when they rescued a swimmer from the Corrib River in September.
This morning’s rescue occurred shortly after 10:30 a.m., when a member of the public raised the alarm.
The RNLI said: “The Irish Coast Guard sought the help of the Galway lifeboat that was launched from Galway docks.
“Two members of the lifeboat’s shore crew headed to the boardwalk to assist in the rescue.
“Patrick and Morgan Oliver were fishing in Salthill at the time and saw the man taking refuge in Palmer’s Rock about 200 meters off the coast of Salthill.
“They took him aboard their fishing boat and took him back to the Galway docks. Meanwhile, the Galway lifeboat was removed.”
The RNLI said the man was treated for hypothermia at the lifeboat station until an ambulance arrived.
He urged people to be safe when swimming in the sea. He said that many people who have started swimming in the sea during this year’s pandemic may not realize the dangers of swimming in winter.
Deputy Launch Authority Seán Óg Leydon said: “The sea is a great resource for us, but we have to respect it and respect our limits.
“Fortunately, this swimmer made his way to a place where he could rest and wait for help.”
A broader appeal follows earlier this week from the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI.
They warned of the dangers of swimming at this time of year. It came as the number of calls to open water swimmers increased in the last month.
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