A man in his thirties has been airlifted to hospital after being injured while body-boarding off County Clare this morning.

He got into difficulties at around half past nine in Ballard Bay near Doonbeg.

A number of other body boarders and surfers helped him from the water and onto the rocks while the alarm was raised.

The Shannon based coastguard helicopter winched the injured man on board and airlifted him to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.