A man who was taking part in a major clean up of Limerick this morning was rescued from the canal after trying to retrieve a life ring.
Emergency services were alerted after the 75 year old fell into the canal on Clare Street shortly after 11 o'clock.
Gardai, ambulance and three units of Limerick Fire and Rescue Service were involved in the rescue.
A passer-by who spotted the man in distress got into the freezing water and held him up until help arrived.
Firefighters wearing specialist rescue gear pulled the man to safety and treated him at the scene.
It happened as Irish rugby star Paul OÂ’Connell led 10-thousand volunteers in Limerick today, cleaning the streets of the city and county.
