A Donegal man has earned high praise after being part of multiple rescues on a chaotic day in Clare.
Aaron McGettigan from Donegal Town was one of six surfers who put their lives at risk on Sunday to save more than 40 people at Lahinch beach.
McGettigan, the son of well-known local couple Ernan and Mary McGettigan, took action to help people from the water because there were no lifeguards were on duty.
“They were putting people on their surf boards and bringing them in from the water,” Senator Róisín Garvey told the Seanad yesterday.
“There were two-year-olds missing and one guy nearly had a heart attack,” she added.
McGettigan and his fellow surfers “could not leave the beach because they were afraid people would die”, the Seanad heard.
The heroic men were named as Ben Bennett, Mike Paige, Aaron McGettigan, Ollie O’Flaherty, Richard Brangwyn and James Monaghan.
Video: Sen. Róisín Garvey
Senator Róisín Garvey said the monitoring of beaches should not be left to volunteers.
“I hope that the chaos and the need for over 40 rescues yesterday alone will mean that the local authority will see fit to not only put on lifeguards, but will put on more lifeguards. It cannot be left to volunteers,” Senator Garvey said.
Following the incident, Senator Garvey said Clare County Council responded to commit daily lifeguards for June instead of just at weekends.
Featured image: Lahinch by Chris Hill. Fáilte Ireland