A passenger who had just returned to Ireland after the Christmas holiday cut both his wrists in Dublin Airport's food hall.

The Polish national (34) was discovered moments from death and bleeding heavily near the Starbucks restaurant at the weekend.

He was saved by the actions of quick-thinking airport emergency services, who managed to stop the bleeding and stabilise the man.

Up to 16 crew were involved in saving the man's life, and sources have revealed that the victim had lost a lot of blood.

The shocking incident took place at around 7.15pm on Friday night, as thousands of people returned home after the Christmas holiday.

Witnesses say the man cut his wrists in a secluded area of the food hall behind the popular Starbucks counter, and was found by horrified travellers.

"It was very tragic, but the Airport Police reacted with great speed and sensitivity," said an airport source.

It is understood that the food hall was quite busy at the time the incident occurred.

The area where the incident took place would have been out of view of most diners. The man was rushed to Beaumont Hospital, where gardai said he was treated for his injuries.

It is expected he could make a good recovery.

A small section of the airport was later closed-off to the public so that a clean-up operation could commence.

"The area where it happened was behind Starbucks, but it is also glassed-off from the area where passengers flying out can dine after going through security," said an airport source.

"The alarm was raised by a member of the public and then Airport Police took over before informing local gardai and the emergency services," they added.

This latest incident occurred almost one year to the day of another tragic suicide attempt at the airport. In January of last year a Latvian man was left in a serious condition in hospital after he attempted suicide by throwing himself off a wall at the departures area of Dublin Airport.

The man (24) jumped from an outside wall at the vehicle drop-off point and landed on the ground after crashing through the glass shelter at the taxi rank below.

The young man was left paralysed from the neck down as a result of the fall.

The man had arrived at the airport in a taxi and was captured on CCTV standing outside the departures terminal building for 20 minutes.

He was then seen running towards the wall and jumping over without stopping.

The victim fell an estimated 30 feet, shattering the glass shelter.

He landed at the feet of two women who were waiting for a taxi. They were not injured but were very shocked.

Emergency services were on the scene within minutes and the victim was taken to Beaumont Hospital, before being transferred to the Mater, where he remains in a serious condition suffering from serious spinal injuries.