Five Galway teenagers are to be nominated for an Irish Water Safety award for their heroic actions in rescuing a man from the River Corrib on Sunday night.
Seán Oliver (14 ) and his friends Niall O’Neill (14 ), Samuel Healy (14 ), Dara McDonagh (14 ), and Brendan Chasseriaud (13 ), pulled the man from the river shortly after 6pm as thousands of people had gathered for the Halloween street festival to watch the Macnas Parade.
The teenagers' actions have been praised by many, with deputy CEO of Irish Water Safety, Roger Sweeney, putting the quintet forward for Irish Water Safety’s 'Seiko Just In Time Award'.
Mr Sweeney lauded the teenagers' ability and confidence in dealing with the pressure situation and said they are an example of what young people can achieve when they are equipped with the right skills.
"It is typically stereotypical for teenagers to get a bad rap but as thousands watched a weekend parade in Galway city, these five teenagers rescued a man from drowning in the cold fast flowing waters nearby - teenagers who were able to react safely and with confidence, having been instilled by their parents with a knowledge and healthy respect for the water.
