The body of a young man was taken from the water last night at Bray Head, Co Wicklow, after a marine rescue team, Dun Laoghaire lifeboat and the Garda sub-aqua team had spent hours searching for a swimmer who had disappeared. Another man was rescued by helicopter earlier.
The alarm was raised when three men got into difficulties shortly after midday at Bray, where large crowds had gathered to enjoy the summer sunshine.
The men, all thought to be in their early 20s, were swimming close to Naylor's Cove when they dived into what was described as rough sea conditions.
One of the men succeeded in making it to shore, where he alerted the rescue services.
The Irish Marine Emergency Services Sikorsky helicopter went to the scene, assisted by lifeboats from Bray and Greystones.
A second man had managed to get to Seagull Rock, where he clung until he was airlifted by helicopter.
The helicopter landed at Bray Golf Club, and the rescued man was taken to Loughlinstown Hospital. His injuries were described as minor.
The lifeboats were later joined in the search for the third man by the Greystones Marine Emergency Team and a number of local boats.
The three men are all believed to come from Dundrum, Co Dublin.