Five courageous Donegal-based lifesavers have received national awards for saving people from drowning.
Three gardaí and two young surfers were among the winners of this year’s ‘Seiko Just in Time Award’ and rescue appreciation awards from Water Safety Ireland in Dublin Castle on Thursday.
The awards stem from three separate incidents in the sea and waterways of Donegal.
Garda Peter McGee (Just in Time Award Recipient)
On Tuesday 30th November 2021, Garda McGee observed a female in distress in the water at Port Bridge, Letterkenny. Without hesitation, Garda McGee entered the water and swam towards the female.
The water was quite deep, the tide was coming in and the current was strong. He managed to grab onto the woman and bring her over towards the riverbank.
He held on valiantly to the wall of one of the arches of the bridge until a ringbuoy was thrown to him. He used the ringbuoy to bring the woman back to the edge and up onto the embankment to safety.
She was taken to hospital where she made a full recovery. The swift and brave actions of Garda Peter McGee undoubtedly prevented the loss of life.
Garda Peter McGee from Donegal receiving a Seiko Just In Time Award from Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (left) and Superintendent Brian Halligan, An Garda Siochona (right) at the annual ceremony in Dublin Castle. Photograph: David Branigan/Oceansport
Garda Keith Conlon ( Just In Time Award), Garda Deirdre Connolly ( Just In Time Award), Garda Tara McGrory (Rescue Appreciation Award)
On the 17th of September 2023, Gardai Keith Conlon, Deirdre Connelly and Tara McGrory arrived at Lough Swilly in Buncranna, they were a group of people said that there was a man in difficulty somewhere in the water but it was dark and visibility was poor.
Gardai Conlon and Connolly waded into the water for 400 meters, making their way in the general direction of the person in distress. They continued to call out while Garda McGrory shone her torch in their direction from shore.
They eventually located the male who was on a sandbar. They reassured him and eventually managed to bring him safely to shore. He made a full recovery. The teamwork of the three gdarí saved this man at risk of drowning in darkness.
Garda Keith Conlon, Garda Deirdre Connolly, Garda Tara McGrory from Donegal receiving a Seiko Just In Time and Rescue Appreciation Award from Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (left) and Superintendent Brian Halligan, An Garda Siochana (right) at the annual ceremony in Dublin Castle. Photograph: David Branigan/Oceansport
Rescue Appreciation Awards were given to students Rohan Debeny Bazeley and Yanto Carrothers
On the evening of the 18th of May 2024, at Portnablagh pier, both Rohan and Yanto heard yelling down at the pier. They observed Gardai arriving at the scene. They grabbed kayaks, entered the water and paddled quickly towards a woman in distress. Upon reaching the woman, they noticed she was afloat and holding onto something by the pier. Gardai had managed to grab a hold of the female and both students remained in the water with her until she was safely pulled onto the pier to safety by members of the Gardai. She made a full recovery.
Rohan Debeny Bazeley, Yanto Carrothers from Donegal receiving a Seiko Just In Time and Rescue Appreciation Award from Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (left) and Clare McGrath, Chairperson Water Safety Ireland (right) at the annual ceremony in Dublin Castle. Photograph: David Branigan/Oceansport
Speaking on the awards, Anne Rabbitte T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said: “I want to commend the valiant efforts of these individuals who saved others from drowning and to also pay tribute to the ongoing work of Water Safety Ireland volunteers who teach swimming and water rescue skills.”
