Teenager saves his friend after car plunges into river killing two
A YOUNG man has been hailed a hero after he saved the life of his friend during a horrific car accident in which two others died.
The car carrying four men had been travelling on the N71 to Kenmare in the early hours of yesterday morning when it plunged into a river near Glengarriff in West Cork.
The victims have been named locally as Michael Bowen, 40, from Ahakista, Co. Cork and Tadhg Murphy, 19, from Glengarriff. They were pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicle was involved in the accident.
A third man, in his late teens, was airlifted to Cork University Hospital with very serious, but non-life threatening, injuries.
It is understood that he was saved by a fourth passenger, also in his teens, who pulled him out of the black Volkswagen Jetta and resuscitated him. Both hail from the Glengarriff area. Sadly, the two other passengers could not escape.
The fourth young man escaped without injury. However, it’s reported that he’s in a deep state of shock.
Independent TD Michael Collins from Cork described his actions as ‘heroic’.
‘We have to be thankful for this young man’s heroic actions, but nevertheless it’s a very sad day in Glengarriff,’ he said. ‘I know the families of the two victims and my heart goes out to them. It’s so hard to come to terms with the scale of this tragedy, but I’m sure the
‘Village of Glengarriff will deeply miss them’
families of everyone involved will be well looked after.’
Meanwhile, victims Michael Bowen and Tadhg Murphy have been described as pillars of their communities.
Cllr Danny Collins told the Irish Daily Mail that Tadhg, who studied biophysics and chemistry at Trinity College Dublin, was a ‘great character’ with a huge number of friends.
‘He was the nicest young man that anyone could have had the pleasure of meeting and I know that he did his parents proud,’ he said.
‘Michael was a very nice guy who was always jovial and a perfect gentleman.
‘They both came from very respectable families and I know the village of Glengarriff will deeply miss them’.
Bantry councillor Patrick Murphy said the west Cork parish was numb with grief.
‘Tragedies like this just go to show how fragile life is,’ he said. ‘Glengarriff is a very rural area and everyone is intertwined in some shape or form. We’re all collectively grieving over the loss of Michael and Tadgh and also praying that the two other young men make a full and quick recovery.
‘It’s hard to say much in these situations, but my thoughts and prayers go to everyone impacted by this very distressing incident.’
The road where the crash occurred was cordoned off yesterday to allow accident scene investigators to carry out their work. Diversions were put in place via the Healy Pass.
The Volkswagen car was later recovered and removed from the scene for a full inspection by Public Service Vehicle experts. Members of Bantry and Castletownbere Units of Cork County Fire Service assisted in this process. The cause of the crash is still unknown.
Meanwhile, gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the accident to come forward.
‘We are appealing for any witnesses that may have seen a black Volkswagen Jetta prior to the accident or in the general vicinity of Glengarriff last night to contact us,’ Supt Declan O’Sullivan said.
Gardaí are also asking motorists who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area at the time to make it available to them.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Bantry Garda Station on 027 20860, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.