It’s official – Jim is a hero!
An Enniscorthy man who saved a man’s life earlier this year has been named a Hidden Hearing Hero at an awards ceremony in Dublin yesterday (Monday).
Jim Jacob, a native of Mill Park Road and now living in Bellefield, was one of 20 hidden heroes who were recognised for ordinary and extraordinary acts of kindness, community, and determination that make a difference in Irish society.
In July this year, Jim Jacob saved a man’s life by jumping into the River Slaney and pulling him to safety. The brave Enniscorthy man gave no thought to his own life, as he took off his shoes and, without hesitation, jumped in to the cold, fast flowing river to rescue the other man.
After rescuing the man Jim didn’t want to be hailed a hero and said he was glad he had been passing when the man got into difficulty.
`The ambulance was there and everything and once I knew he was going to be okay, I just got back in the van and got out of there. I’m alright and he’s alright and that’s the main thing. It was strange the way it worked out that I just happened to be passing at that time, but I’m just glad everyone is okay.’
Presenting the national award, Stephen Leddy, Hidden Hearing’s Managing Director, said that people like Jim Jacob are to be celebrated for their immense and selfless acts.
‘Our Enniscorthy winner is not just brave, but he also displayed caring and compassion when he came upon somebody else in difficulty. He did not hesitate to help, and risked his own life in doing so.’
Other winners in the 2017 Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards included Cork mother Vera Twomey, who campaigned for cannabis-based treatment for her daughter Ava, who suffers from a severe form of epilepsy.
82 year old Joe MacAvin from Killiney in County Dublin, who is a co-founder of the 3Ts suicide prevention charity, was also honoured at the Heroes award ceremony.
pen to young and old people from all walks of life, the Hidden Hearing Hero Awards has been run since 2011, and invites nominations from members of the public in a number of categories.
The awards scheme is supported by Hidden Hearing, but nominees are not necessarily deaf or hard of hearing.
Broadcaster Mary Kennedy was MC at the glittering awards presentation in the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin.
Celebrities and media personalities on hand to congratulate the 2017 Hidden Hearing Heroes included Aisling O’Loughlin, Lorraine Keane, Nuala Carey, Alan Hughes, Karl Broderick, sports star Tony Ward, chef Kevin Dundon, singer Melanie McCabe and actors Maclean Burke, Tony Tormey and Claudia Carroll.