Hero teen rescues drowning woman

By Fiona Magennis, Drogheda Independent - Friday October 21st 2005

A LOCAL teenager was hailed as a hero this week after rescuing a woman from the River Boyne.

Brave Catherine Conlon (17) from Hand Street in Drogheda wasted no time in diving into the river when she spotted the woman face down in the water and immediately went to her aid.

As a member of the Boyne Fishermen’s Rescue and Recovery Service (BFRRS), Catherine was first on the scene following an emergency call just after 10pm last Thursday night and saw the woman floating face down in the river.

The plucky teenager immediately jumped in and dragged the woman, who had stopped breathing, turned her over and kept her head above water until she got her breath again.

‘She was face down in the water when we arrived and three gardai were already at the scene. Me and my dad jumped in and she was face down in the water at that stage,’ said Catherine.

‘I just got in the water straight away because I knew I had to go get her, that was the only thing I could think of,’ she explained.

Thankfully, Catherine and her father Paul, who is also a member of the BFRRS, got there just in time and their quick thinking helped to avert almost certain tragedy.

‘While we were on the way there I got my wetsuit on while my dad was driving. When we got there she was face down in the water so I jumped in and when I got to her I realised she wasn’t breathing. I put her head on my chest and she started breathing again; I managed to bring her to the side and one of the men jumped in to help me get her out.’

Members of the ambulance service were on hand to provide emergency treatment at the scene and the woman was subsequently removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

Rescue services have said the quick thinking of the courageous teenager meant the difference between life and death for the woman as minutes later the situation would have ended in tragedy.

A member of the BFRRS for the past eight months, this is the first time Catherine’s experience has been called into play.

She is delighted the skills she has learned have come in so handy in such a tenuous life and death situation. ‘When we left she was breathing again and the ambulance crew were looking after her so hopefully she will be alright.’

Chairman of the BFRRS, Michael Hodgins said the 17-year-old had done a fantastic job and had stayed calm and focused under extremely pressurised circumstances.

‘What she did was fantastic and we are very proud of her,’ he commented. ‘She has been training every second Sunday for emergencies like this and the situation on Thursday shows just how important that training is.

‘When it came down to it, she knew exactly what to do.‘We have a few young members like Catherine and they are vital in order to keep the BFRRS – its very important to have them.

’A spokesperson for the HSE north east area said the woman remains in a stable condition in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

© Drogheda Independent