A kitesurfer has been rescued off Galway Bay.

The man in his early 30s got into difficulty between Hare Island and Rabbit Island off Ballylougan beach as they tide went out at around 5 o'clock this evening.

A member of the public raised the alarm and the Coastguard called the Galway RNLI lifeboat to the scene.

He came off the board a number of times, became heavily fatigued and was blown onto Rabbit Island, where he was rescued.

The man who was not from the area was wearing a wetsuit but not a lifejacket.