Eight children and an adult have escaped serious injury when they were swept into the sea by a large wave off the coast of County Antrim.

The incident happened at the Giant's Causeway on Thursday.

The children, aged between four and 13, were rescued by a man whose own two children were swept away.

The National Trust has said it is reassessing safety at the Causeway.

The group's north west area manager, Paul Mullen, said people should be more aware of the dangers of visiting such sites.

Children were wrapped in blankets

"Open spaces are very precious to us all and to have to close them off would be a terrible thing to do," he said.

"We have to make sure that people are briefed and understand what the dangers are."

The Macrorys from Londonderry and their cousins, the Humphreys from Cheshire, had been making the most of the good weather, visiting the Causeway when the wave struck.

Adam Macrory, 13, managed to save his cousin's life, even though he had been knocked down too.

"I was lying on the ground and my cousin started to slide past me," he said.

"I couldn't stand up because the current was sliding back out.

"I crawled over and got a hold of his hand to stop him, but he was starting to slip. His father came over and helped me and I got a hold of him and pulled him out."

His father Drew Macrory had been videotaping the day out.

He said he could not believe what was happening.

"It was laughable at first - but it suddenly hits home that it is not a laughable experience.

"It was something surreal... you just go on to autopilot."

The children's uncle, Ian Humphrey, said the wave was of "freak proportions".

"It came in, hit the rocks, broke on the rocks, but carried on over the rocks and came in over our heads and flattened everybody."

Paisley relief

The children and their uncle suffered cuts and bruises but were all allowed home after receiving treatment in hospital.

Local assembly member Ian Paisley Junior rescued a child from the waters off the north Antrim coast in a similar drama four years ago.

"On that occasion another child perished. I am relieved that no one did lose their life on this occasion," he said.

It was laughable at first - but it suddenly hits home that it is not a laughable experience

Drew Macrory Father

"But it is a stark warning that when civilisation meets the uncontainable sea, it is not a great toy for people to get up close and personal with.

"It is something to stand back from and appreciate from a distance."

He added: "The closer people get to the edge - which is of course the attraction to the Giant's Causeway - the more they put themselves at risk."