A WOMAN WHO saved a young girl from drowning last week has spoken of her determination to rescue the child.
Michelle Cremin from Cork braved a dangerous rip current at Inch beach last Saturday week to rescue ten-year-old Grace Mulrooney.
Grace’s mother Anne-Marie, from Tipperary, yesterday told RTÉ Radio’s Liveline that Michelle had raced into the water to save her daughter.
Today on the same programme, Michelle spoke of the incident which she said has left her shaken. The two women have spoken and arranged to meet up.
She told Joe Duffy she had gone to the beach with her partner and two children.
I was slightly away from my kids and partner and could hear this woman frantically screaming and shouting. She was pointing out to the sea.
I could see a girl who was so far out. I know that beach like the back of my hand and I knew the seriousness of the situation she was in.
“I know this very current and I seen men running, but knew they wouldn’t reach her in time. So I had a decision to make.”
Michelle said that she was “swamped” by waves and thought she wouldn’t make it to Grace. Eventually she reached the child, but couldn’t stay afloat.
“At one stage I had to let her go because I couldn’t breathe.
“There was someone behind me and I felt them reaching over me and grabbing her.”
It was then that Michelle was swept into the current herself,
I didn’t think I was going to make it at that point. I remember screaming out for help. My partner’s uncle and cousin had both passed away by drowning and I called out to them.
At that moment, a boogie board was then thrown to Anne Marie, who managed to get Michelle on to it before she was swept to rocks.
I wasn’t prepared to let Grace drown. Not right there in front of me. I wanted to get back to shore to my own children.
Michelle says that she has brought her children and her nieces to the beach, which she says is “stunning but so dangerous”, to warn them of the dangers.
She says that there should be more signage on the beach to warn of the dangerous rip currents.
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