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A FAMILY IN Carlow managed to narrowly avert tragedy last week after a young toddler fell into the freezing water of the River Barrow.
Michael Lyons was on a family outing with his two children, his father and their 18-month-old nephew Max last week when the incident occurred.
The off-duty soldier’s 18-month-old nephew was feeding the ducks at Carlow rowing club when he fell over the low railing into the freezing water of the River Barrow at around 12.15pm on Sunday.
Michael immediately jumped in to save Max, and managed to get him out before the boy suffered any serious injuries.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” Michael Lyons told TheJournal.ie.
Instinct took over, and all I could think was that I had to make this right.
Max’s mother, and Michael’s sister Aisling, had been in Galway for the weekend, and he had proposed taking Max out with his two children – aged two and five – for the day.
His father, also called Michael, came along too, while Max’s father said he’d meet them later.
They decided to feed the ducks on the Quay by Carlow rowing club.
“It all happened so quickly,” Michael said. “Max was feeding ducks and next thing he’d tripped over the railings and fell about 8 foot into the freezing water.”
Michael shared a glance with his father, before jumping in himself.
This picture will live with me for the rest of my life. As I was jumping in, I could see him under the water with his eyes open. I just had to get him. He was definitely coming back with me.
Although he is a soldier, Michael said it wasn’t a matter of his training kicking in, he just did what he felt he had to.
“It had nothing to do with being a soldier,” he said. “Family came into it first, before work did.
All I could think of his father saying goodbye to him that morning, and the last picture we took of all the lads together just a few minutes before.
He managed to get a hold of Max and raise him above the water. However, there was still a major problem as he had to lift him to such a height above the water so his father could grab a hold of the boy.
By the time I had him up, it was another 3 feet I needed to lift him. I had my clothes on too, so by the time he was up, I was starting to go down.
“I had to get underneath him and swim with one hand, and the water was so cold,” Michael said.
It was then that Michael’s eldest son started to call for help, just as he managed to get Max out of the water.
A man from a nearby apartment block came down to them with towels and blankets, while his wife heated their apartment upstairs so they could warm Max up.
“By the time Max’s father arrived, all I could say was, ‘Sorry’,” Michael said.
Max was taken to a doctor later that day and got the all-clear, and Michael paid the family a visit later that evening.
His sister had arrived back, and everyone was grateful and relieved that Michael had acted so quickly to rescue his nephew.
Michael, however, says he is still feeling the shock from the event.
“The thought of what could have happened if Max had panicked is horrible,” he explained. “He could have easily swallowed a load of water but did not. It could have different. One of mine could have fallen in.
If anything had happened to any of them, I couldn’t live with myself. I’d be forever blaming myself.
Luckily, both he and Max have made a full recovery from the incident.
Michael’s father told TheJournal.ie that he was immensly proud of his son for taking such swift action.
He said: “He has a a big heart and without hesitation he jumped over the railing fully clothed.
For me, it is like a film on a loop it just keeps playing in my head but we are all good now. Max is back to his usual self and we have a happy ending, thank god.
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Arrest and suspicion do not mean guilt.
Hopefully when arrested this individual gave full and unconditional assistance.
Ordinary and decent people were killed by angry and vicious killers seeking glory and exercising pure hate. There is a real duty, a moral duty, to provide all possible assistance.
@Tony Daly:
Did you manage to watch ‘Jihadi next door’?, now deleted from Netflix? Any of their dubious like minded associates should be arrested and brought in to “assist” law enforcement agencies, it’s the logical thing to do as Jihadists have no morals.
@Rowe:
BBC radio 2 today spoke about it.
The actual recorded footage for Jihadi next door was 41/2 hours long before editing. Amazingly the UK police did not request it even up today, despite one of the boys in it going on to feature in the attack.
@Rowe: the rule of law should continue to be observed. It is part of The Western way. It is what distinguishes us from those who attack us.
@Mike Cantwell: it is those assumptions which produce false positives and obstruct identifying those who are truly guilty.
Well Tony every decent person would assist the Guards but 66% of Muslims in Britain will not assist the Police with re to Terrorism I can’t imagine the numbers will be any different here
@Mike Cantwell: you are incorrect. Moderate Muslims, the vast majority, will give discreet and confidential assistance.
@Tony Daly: You’re dead wrong – the statistics are there to prove it.
‘One in three’ muslims would tip off police if they believed someone close to them was involved with terrorist sympathisers.
Are you prepared to alter your position now that you have been shown this data?
@Tony Daly: Tony..while it’s admirable that you come to the defence of the majority of peaceful Muslims sometimes you have to look at it objectively. While this man may not have had anything to do with the attack if he was carrying false documents, even if the purpose was social welfare fraud, I have no time for him and believe he should be deported.
@Tony Daly:
The law of the land doesn’t really apply to those who live under Sharia.
@Tony Daly: Tony Daly man!!! You are wrong as usual !! Stop pushing a false agenda u old hag
@Mick Murphy: what would be the odds though for getting him deported ?
@Suzie Sunshine: lol…you know the answer to that as well as I Suzie
@Mick Murphy: sadly I do , Mick …
@Mick Murphy: It’s a sad state of affairs when our best chance of tracking jihadis down will be through welfare fraud officers .
@Ken Hayden: sometimes an unethical decision is the best decision in the long run for the greater good! Its called consequentialism and is the usual form of ethics in this world! I dont know why you softies think this should be changed!
Where did Tony go?
Thank God Ireland is an island and not in mainland Europe, wish Ireland and its people the safety and prosperity.
A file will now be prepared for the Director of Pathetic Prosecutions…some serious overtime in that office!! Joke shop
The western news blackout on the ongoing genocide in the Yemen by the Saudi regime can’t continue, this poses a huge moral problem for Irish citizens, American backed forces are currently fighting side by side with Isis, the Saudi warplanes are being refuelled by American planes which is the service we supply at Shannon, in short we are assisting terrorism against the Yemeni people while standing shoulder to shoulder with the victims of Isis closer to home.
@Dave Hogan: Its a civil war, gift wrapped by a typical sunni v shia proxy conflict. Saudi V Iran. The Yemeni people you suggest we should be assisting are also fighting against Iranian armed Yemeni / Hezbollah forces. Yet again you only manage half the story. The Saudis have absolutely killed the majority of civilians, whilst the Houthis have and are being investigated for war crimes. Absolute poverty, poor sanitation and almost zero water resources pose a far greater long term threat.
Just like all the arrested in London and Manchester released without charge……a smokescreen…
Are people quilty by association now?
@abcyz: the hysteria and blood lust revenge brings out the worst in some people. They are the ones who respond just as ISIS wants them to respond.
Terrorism is deliberately provocative. It is meant to trigger fear, hate and revenge. It is intended to undermine western values of fairness and justice.
@abcyz: Given what happened they’re certainly worthy of questioning.
@abcyz: wouldn’t it be worse if they weren’t investigated especially after one of them was found with the London attackers documents? god forbid something happened here with one of these lads, everyone would be up in arms demanding why they weren’t at the very least investigated. well done gardai for doing their job.
@Tony Daly: wont be long changing your tube if it was someone close to you….
@Paul: that is the lame argument as to emotion. It is meaningless.
@Tony Daly: what way would you respond if it was one of your family members caught up in one of these attacks ? Not all Islamic people are bad people but 80% are in favour of sharia law being implemented..Our stupid government will let more good and BAD in to the country..And more attacks will occur ..I’m sure your in favour of open borders too yeah? All love one another and everything is sunshine and rainbows like Katy Perry suggests..You don’t fight back with hate but at least open your eyes because I guarantee you if an attack happened one of your family members you would have a different view
@Stevo02 Scofield: I have no idea but my personal reaction in a period of immense grief would not be a sound basis for policy. Try to exercise objectivity.
@Tony Daly:
Objectivity!!!!! On the journal?
Good luck with that.
@Tony Daly: western Europe is rapidly resembling Isreal before the wall was built to protect its people from the slaughter of suicide bombers what wall is Europe going to bulid to protect is people from jihad killers
@abcyz:
Released without charge, file being prepared for the DPP as per normal practice. If the investigation found nothing untoward there would be no file for the DPP.
@Tony Daly: There he goes again
Yes they are
You lie down with dogs you get fleas
Released without charge a joke
Hold them and deport them
This country and its police force are a joke
@Mark Walsh: feel better?
@Tony Daly: Yes Tony I do, I have another one for you too…
My name is Jafar
I come from afar
I have a bomb in my car
Allahu Akbar
@Mark Walsh: too right! Any suspicion and your out soft lefties have so much blood on their hands and still moan!
@Shane Moynihan: Oops, looks like you switched from your ‘Mark Walsh’ account by accident! Are you Suzie Sunshine and Matty Kilcock too?
Ah sure of course!
@Damien Dineen: I don’t mind once we are on the ball checking this stuff as quickly as possible!
Up Wexford
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