The man behind a dramatic river rescue in Carrick on Shannon this week has highlighted the vital importance of life rings along waterways.
Earlier this week, a young man was spotted entering the water in the town leading to a rapid public rescue effort.
Two members of the public entered the water to aid the man while emergency services travelled to the scene.
The first was able to get a life ring to the man, but encountered difficulties in the cold water and was forced to return to shore.
Carrick on Shannon local Daniel Mee then swam out to the man and was able to drag him to shore where he was attended to by ambulance personnel.
Speaking to Let's Talk, Daniel, who works for the Moon River Cruise Company, says the life ring saved the young man's life:
LISTEN: Our reporter Daniel Considine has been speaking to Daniel about his rescue:
''I stripped down to my boxers and jumped into the water. There was a man standing next to me. So I asked him just to mind my clothes. I jumped in, made my way over to the gentleman. I tried to talk to him, he wasn't able to talk back to me. I was just trying to let him know that you'll be okay.
I believe a gentleman attempted to get get to him, managed to get him the ring, but unfortunately started to get into difficulty himself with the cold, he started cramping up and had to abort.
But that that selfless act that actually managed to get that young man that life ring was the absolute key. Because if he hadn't had that, his muscles would have gone into the same cramping style that the other gentleman had. And so it would have proven very difficult for him to stay afloat.''
