Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MYSTERY ULSTER HERO SAVES WOMAN
Young man bravely swims out to rescue passenger after car plunges into river
A MYSTERY man from Northern Ireland swam out to save a woman passenger whose car crashed into a river.
Philip and Loreta Mckinlay’s Nissan Qashqai left the road near Porthall in Lifford, Co Donegal, on Saturday evening.
One witness said: “I’m not sure who he is but he is the real hero.”
A WOMAN was saved from drowning when she was pulled from a car that had left the road and ended up in a river.
A mystery hero from Northern Ireland was one of a number of people who dramatically came to the rescue of Loreta Mckinlay on Saturday evening.
Her husband Philip, who was driving the Nissan Qashqai, had scrambled on top of it as it was becoming submerged in the Swilly Burn river near Porthall in Lifford, Co Donegal.
And as he shouted for help one young man swam out to save his wife. One passer-by, who asked not to be named, said: “I’m not sure who he is but he is the real hero. When I arrived I saw the man on the roof and he was shouting that his wife was inside.
“Out of nowhere this guy just jumped in and managed to pull the woman from the car.
“I threw out a hose and they came back in. When he got the woman to the banking he started to give her CPR.
“She seemed to be in the car a long time. The ambulance arrived then. I’m not sure who he is. I think he is from the North but he is the hero.”
The couple from Rosgier in Lifford are believed to be in their 60s. They were rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry where Mrs Mckinlay was last night reported to be in a critical condition.
The drama unfolded just before 6.30pm when the car left the road. It turned on its roof as it entered the river. A number of people arrived on the scene and waded in as the vehicle was filling up with water.
As Mr Mckinlay freed himself the young man answered his pleas to get his trapped wife out by bravely swimming out to the car.
Another onlooker ran to a passing motorist and managed to get a water hose which he passed to the rescuer before the couple were taken ashore. Emergency services from both sides of the border, including the Rescue 118 helicopter, were called to the scene.
Irish police are still trying to determine the cause.
There were no skidmarks and no other vehicle was involved in the incident which happened close to the Sully Bridge. The couple’s golden retriever dog was in the car but managed to get out and fled the scene.
It was found a short time later. Forensic experts spent yesterday investigating what caused the Qashqai to leave the road. During the afternoon the car was taken from the river for further examination.
Insp Michael Harrison said there was very little information that could be provided at this stage. He added: “We are still keeping an open mind on the cause of the crash.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area and witnessed the car leaving the road to get in touch.”
At this stage we are still keeping an open mind on the cause of the crash INSP MICHAEL HARRISON CO DONEGAL YESTERDAY