River Lee rescue brothers insist they’re not heroes

“I think if we can help people, we should. It’s only humanity. We need to be good humans in this life. And I hope others would have done the same,” Santiago said.

“I just hope the lady is ok and gets help.”

Pablo said: “I feel flattered that people say we are heroes, but heroes is a very big word.

I am proud of my brother. He jumped in first and saved her. He acted really fast. I just gave him a hand

“But people shouted advice to us, threw us a lifebuoy, the firefighters and medics came really fast, it was the teamwork of everyone. Everyone did a really good job.

“I am not very religious, but I trust in God, and I think he gave me enough strength to do what I did, to react how I did.

“Afterwards, I prayed to God and thanked him that we are still here.”

The drama began to unfold around 9pm on Monday while Pablo was in the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) emergency department with a suspected broken nose he had sustained while playing soccer earlier.

Santiago was waiting outside with his girlfriend, Teresa, when he saw a distressed middle-aged woman approach the quay walls, remove her shoes and enter the river.

“I didn’t think twice, I handed my girlfriend my phone and wallet and jumped in,” Santiago said.

Pablo ran outside and saw Santiago struggling to keep the woman afloat

“I thought this woman could sink him so I jumped into the water to give him a hand,” Pablo said.

“In that moment, I didn’t think too much about the danger or the cold water.

“There was too much adrenalin going through my veins.

“I just acted like my brain told me. It was like a scene from a movie.

“Some people threw us a lifebuoy, which was really helpful. The woman did not want help but we said ‘you’re not going anywhere – not today’.” The twins used the life ring to keep the woman afloat, and got her to the quay wall where they were all helped out by fire fighters, gardaí and ambulance crews.

All three were taken to the hospital for assessment, but Pablo was told it will be several days before medics can assess his nose injury.

The second officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, Victor Shine, commended the men for their courage and bravery.

“It was heroic. Their intervention most likely saved this woman’s life,” he said.

The brothers arrived in Cork in January as part of a year off college to travel and learn English. 

Pablo is working in the Old Oak and recently got a job in Cafe Mexicana, while Santiago is working in Clancy’s.