Two cattle were rescued from the sea in Waterford Harbour after they fell 15 metres off a cliff and into the water.

Fethard Lifeboat was tasked to the scene at yesterday morning.

One of the animals was stranded a Kilometre and a half from the shoreline. The second animal was 10 feet above the water on rocks.

Crewman Eoin Bird entered the water with a rope, swimming 50 yards in dangerous and difficult conditions to reach the stranded animal.

He made a halter and placed it around the animal. He was brought alongside the lifeboat and one of the crew held his head safely above water bringing him safely into Templetown Bay where he was safely landed ashore to be taken into the care of the owner.

They crew, operating in choppy seas with a 2 metre swell, escorted the second animal ashore safely.