A 16-YEAR-OLD HAS been praised for his bravery after diving into dangerous waters to save a drowning woman.
Dylan Murphy (16) from Dungarvan, Co Waterford, said he was able to save the woman’s life using techniques his grandfather taught him as a child.
He had finished work at The Anchor Bar in the town on 20 December at around 2am when a colleague, Clodagh Murphy, left early.
“On her way she saw a girl fall into the quay, and the current pulled her out,” Dylan told RTÉ’s Liveline, after the show received texts praising him.
Clodagh tried to throw a ringbuoy in for her, but couldn’t reach.
She ran back to tell those who were still working in the bar, and they came out to help.
Dylan took off any clothing that could drag him underwater, grabbed another life ring, and began swimming out to her, with the life ring placed in front of him.
“By the time I got to her she was starting to go under,” Dylan recalled. He caught her hand, tied it to the life ring with a piece of string, before beginning to swim back to shore.
The woman was taken to University Hospital Waterford where she was treated for water inhalation and hypothermia, but was well enough to pay Dylan a visit three days later to thank him and praise him for saving her life.
“It feels great, it’s hard to explain, Dylan said.
I don’t have the words really to explain it.
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