The ten year old boy got into difficulty while swimming at around 4pm yesterday.

An Enfield man has been hailed as a hero for rescuing a young boy from a West Kerry beach.

Mícheál Keogh came to the aid of a ten year old boy who got into difficulty while swimming at Coumeenole beach near Slea Head at around 4pm yesterday.

The boy's father and two other relatives had attempted to come to his assistance but they were also overcome by strong currents.

Speaking to RTE, Mr Keogh said:

"I saw there was a young boy in trouble over to my left and I knew there was a dangerous current where he was. I saw his father tearing in after him and then he got in to trouble.

"And two more relatives came in as well, I think they were uncles. It all happened really quickly. The waves were fairly big. They were being pulled out by the current.

"Another man, whose name I didn’t get, ran in to help but couldn’t get the boy back to shore, the waves were just too high. But we managed to pull the boy and the three other men as far as a rock in the sea. I told them to cling on to it."

Mr Keogh said the other man organised a human chain on the beach to assist them.

"I took the little boy from the rock first. The waves were breaking and I was still out of my depth, but I was able to lift the little boy above my head and I carried him from the rock as far as the human chain. Then I went back out for the others.

"One by one I just grabbed them under by arm and I swam in with them."

Carol Leahy of the Dingle Coastguard described the actions of Mr Keogh as "truly heroic".

She said: "I'm just amazed at that young man’s perseverance and courageous efforts."

The boy was attended to by a doctor and an off-duty lifeguard on the beach.

The young boy was airlifted to University Hospital Kerry as a precaution.