Men hailed as heroes after saving woman in daring Cork city river rescue

Three units of the Cork City Fire Brigade and gardaí rushed to the scene, with reports that there were three people in the water.

The fire brigade’s swift water rescue technicians were suiting up to be ready to enter the water as soon as they arrived.

However, by the time they arrived on scene, two young men had managed to grab hold of the stricken woman and bring her to the safety of the quayside.

They were all taken to Mercy University Hospital for medical assessment. No serious injuries were reported.

A spokesman for Cork City Fire Brigade hailed the two young men as heroes and commended them for their bravery in entering the water to save the woman.

Meanwhile, details have emerged of another daring water rescue in which two young women were saved following an incident at Fountainstown on Sunday evening.

The two women, both aged in their 20s, got into difficulty while swimming at what is known locally as the “back beach” at Fountainstown. The area is known for its strong and dangerous currents. 

The alarm was raised just after 5pm, and members of Crosshaven Coast Guard unit were deployed to the scene.

However, a young man grabbed a lifebouy, dived in, managed to get to the two women, and swim with them across the channel to the Ringabella side of the estuary, where they managed to come ashore safely.

The emergency crews were stood down a short time later when it was confirmed that everyone was ok.

Just last week, Water Safety Ireland issued an urgent appeal to schoolteachers, parents, and guardians to prioritise water safety education following the tragic drowning of seven children in Ireland in 2023. 

As part of National Water Safety Awareness Week, Water Safety Ireland emphasised the critical importance of educating young people about water safety to prevent further tragedies.