HEROES ONE AND ALL!
BRAVE RESCUE EFFORTS AT HOOK HEAD AND GRAIGUENAMANAGH HONOURED AT DUBLIN CEREMONY
BRAVERY awards were given to four teenagers who tried to rescue the life of a Dublin scout who got into difficulty off Hook Head and a Graiguenamanagh man who rescued a man from drowning.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó’Fearghaíl TD, presented 15 awards in recognition of outstanding acts of bravery at a national ceremony in Farmleigh House on Friday, October 20. The 15 honours are awarded by Comhairle na Mire Gaile – the Deeds of Bravery Council – which was established in 1947 to provide for suitable recognition by the State of outstanding deeds of bravery.
Congratulating the recipients, Mr Ó’Fearghaíl, said: ‘The Bravery Awards are the only such awards made by the Irish State to its citizens and it is fitting that these courageous acts of bravery are acknowledged and celebrated. Today we celebrate the actions of very brave people from every corner of the country, who, through their heroic and courageous acts have helped other people. I am honoured to present Bravery Awards to this year’s recipients.’
Mr Ó’Fearghaíl said: ‘ Today we remember the courage and bravery of Caitriona Lucas, a coast guard volunteer who tragically died during a search off the County Clare coast in September 2016. Catriona’s courage and selfless action on that day says everything about her - her strength of character and spirit and willingness to help others.
‘It is also a reminder of how committed and brave members of our emergency services put their lives on the line on a daily basis.’
On December 6, 2015, a group of 14 scouts led by two scout leaders visited Hook Head Lighthouse. While most of the scouts and the scout leaders went into the cafeteria for lunch, a few of the scouts went out for a walk.
A number of scouts made their way out onto the rocks. The scouts were playing on the rocks and were moving in and out of the rocks trying to avoid the waves while getting as close as possible to them. At approximately 2 p.m., Philip Byrne and a young girl, Aoife Winterlich, were running up the rocks away from a wave when they were hit by the water from behind and knocked onto the rocks.
Philip Byrne made it onto his feet but Aoife was still down. A second bigger wave came and pulled him into the water. He managed to make it to his feet again and then he and Sean Baitson saw the girl sitting on a rock 10 meters out and 20 meters down.
She was moving on the rock but appeared to be dazed.
Philip Byrne, Sean Baitson, Kyle Corrigan and Cody Ridge Grennelle made their way to where the girl was and tried to retrieve Aoife from the water. Kyle Corrigan began to lift her when another wave struck, knocking him, Cody and Sean into the water. This wave also dragged the girl further into the sea.
Philip Byrne jumped into the water and managed to reach Aoife, who was limp in the water and going in and out of consciousness, before her eyes closed.
Both of them were tossed about by the waves before the current took them out beyond the swell to calmer water.
Philip Byrne managed to keep her afloat. He was attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He remained with her until the helicopter arrived. Emergency services responded and were on the scene within minutes. Philip and Aoife were winched from the water by the Coast Guard personnel. Just as they reached the helicopter, the girl fell from the harness back into the water. She was retrieved immediately and returned to the helicopter where C.P.R. was administered en route to Waterford Regional Hospital. Aoife was subsequently transferred to Crumlin Children’s Hospital on December 8, 2015 and tragically was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m. two days later.
For their efforts Sean Baitson, Philip Byrne, Kyle Corrigan and Cody Ridge Grennelle were each awarded a Bronze Medal and Certificate of Bravery.
Eoin Bolger was awarded a Bronze Medal and Certificate of Bravery. On November 16, 2016 at 3:30 p.m., Thomastown Garda Station, Co. Kilkenny received a call concerning the safety of a man.
A garda arrived to the bottom of the Barrow Lane where he saw a car just about to enter the water at the boat slip in Graiguenamanagh.
By the time he got to the boat slip, the car was starting to float into the main river channel. The driver’s door was open and the male did not appear to be wearing a seat belt. The car was starting to sink at an accelerating rate as it went into the river channel and was well out of the reach of the garda who continued to shout at the man to get out of the car. The man continued to look down and was not responding.
The car drifted into the middle of the main river channel and was sinking front first. Eoin Bolger dived into the water and swam out to the car which by now was in mid-channel, 15 meters or so from the river bank and about 50 yards from the boat slip. As the car and driver became submerged Mr. Bolger reached it, went underwater and pulled the male out of the car. The male initially resisted his attempts to remove him but then complied with Mr. Bolger’s attempts. Mr. Bolger then surfaced along with the male and pushed him towards the river’s edge. Graiguenamanagh Fire Brigade units were on the scene and assisted in getting the male onto dry land and administered oxygen.