Two men who made a dramatic rescue from the Boyle River on Monday August 27th last were presented with bravery awards recently.
Robert Browne and Garda Colum Barron were both awarded ‘Seiko Just in Time Rescue Awards’ at a ceremony in the Hibernia Conference Centre in Dublin.
Robert Browne was on a family outing when he saw the car upsidedown in the river at the Woodenbridge.
He entered the water and was assisted by Garda Barron who arrived on the scene a short time later.
Garda Barron used his baton to break the rear window of the car to bring both occupants to safety.
Mr Seán Canney TD, Minister of State at the Department of Rural & Community Development who presented the awards said ‘It is an honour to pay tribute to all these courageous recipients. Tragically an average of 127 people drown in Ireland every year and although that’s 127 too many, the figure would be even higher but for the dramatic efforts of these individuals who saved others from drowning and the ongoing work of Irish Water Safety volunteers teaching swimming and water rescue skills’.
(Boyletoday.com photograph shows Boyle Fire Service retrieving the car at the scene of the rescue lat August)
