Three Buncrana-based gardaí have been praised for their fast actions which saved a young man’s life.
Garda Keith Conlon, Garda Deirdre Connolly and Student Garda, Tara McGrory were on overnight duty on Sunday, September 17th. Shortly after 3am they got a call from a young woman in distress.
A 21-year-old man had just entered the freezing cold water at Shore Front.
The three gardaí raced to the beach where they were met by a number of young people extremely frantic – their friend had entered the dark sea and could not be seen.
Despite the night’s darkness, freezing cold water and entirely unknowing the water’s depths, Garda Conlon and Garda Connolly went straight in.
Demonstrating their skill and training, Student Garda McGrory held back on the shoreline to shine her torch in their direction.
Together, they managed to locate the young man quite some distance in and got him safely back to land where Garda colleagues and a unit from Donegal Fire Service had arrived on the scene to assist.
The young man was medically assessed and brought to Letterkenny University Hospital for treatment.
“He is recovering well and we look forward to him being back in full health very soon,” said a garda spokesperson.
“Gardaí nationwide know that it takes bravery and quick-thinking to save a life but more than that, it takes team-work.
“Garda Keith Conlon, Garda Deirdre Connolly and Student Garda Tara McGrory are the ultimate team.”
Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken praised the bravery of the trio for their part in the heroic rescue.
“Immense bravery was demonstrated,” he told last week’s Donegal Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
“The gardai demonstrated quick-thinking by taking the buoy from the garda station to the scene and recovered the male who is now safe and well.”
