Woman drowns while swimming off Achill Island

A woman has drowned while swimming off Achill Island, Co Mayo earlier this afternoon.

The deceased, who has not been named, was said to be middle-aged and had been swimming with a group of people when the tragedy occurred.

Malin Head Coast Guard received an emergency call just after 3pm and members of the Achill Coast Guard responded.

They recovered the woman's remains from the water and brought her back to Purteen Pier in Achill where she was pronounced dead by a local doctor. Her remains were transferred to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar.

It is believed she was from the area.

A helicopter had also been scrambled to the scene from Athlone although it was stood down when it became clear the woman had drowned.

According to the coast guard, not many people had been swimming due to temperatures although weather conditions were reasonably good in the area at the time.