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Dramatic footage shows rescue of surfer missing for 32 hours in the Irish Sea

THIS is the dramatic moment a surfer was plucked from the Irish Sea after spending 32 hours clinging to his surfboard.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency released the footage after Matthew Bryce from Glasgow was plucked from the water on Monday evening.

The 22-year-old was reported missing by family on Sunday afternoon, April 30, after he was last seen setting off from Campbeltown in the extreme southwest of Scotland to go for a surf at 9am on Sunday.

He was eventually found by a rescue helicopter at around 7.30pm on Monday, having drifted more than 13 miles.

Mr Bryce was airlifted to a hospital in Belfast for medical treatment after suffering from hypothermia.

“I am so grateful that I am now receiving treatment in hospital,” said Mr Bryce from his hospital bed. “I cannot thank those enough who rescued and cared for me. They are all heroes."

Mr Bryce said he was too weak to do any interviews.

Watch the dramatic rescue below...

“For now, I am not facilitating any interviews as I am exhausted. Please respect the privacy of myself and my family at this time as I recover,” he said.

Up to 50 members of the coastguard and RNLI were involved in the search for Mr Bryce, with police also involved.

Three RNLI lifeboats – two from Scotland, one from Northern Ireland – searched different sections of the search area while a coastguard helicopter from Glasgow and a police helicopter were also involved.

During the operation the police helicopter had to be diverted to another mission. Crews also were involved in searching the shoreline.

In the footage of Mr Bryce’s rescue, a crewman is winched down into the water as the aircraft nears the surfer before they are both pulled back inside, leaving the board behind.

Mr Bryce was wearing a full wetsuit, which has been credited with saving his life, and had managed to stay with his board to keep him out of the water.

His cousin, Meghan Henry, said the family was relieved to hear he had been found alive "before having to spend another night in the water".

Writing on Facebook, she added: “What a day it was yesterday. Never imagined things like that would happen to anyone in our own family. It’s horrible not knowing but thank God Matthew was found alive.”