A number of people from the Shannonside region will be recognised in a
special online ceremony later this evening to honour those who have rescued
people from drowning in our waterways.
A total of 51 lives were saved over the last two years and the rescuers will
be honoured at Water Safety Ireland's National Annual Awards Ceremony to be
broadcast online this evening at 7 o' clock.
Among local recipients are Sam Rodden and Patrik Orals who rescued a man
from the Boyle River in October of last year.
A group of gardai in Athlone will also be recognised for their effort in
getting a rowboat out to a drowning woman in the River Shannon in September
last year.
Breda Fahy, Tom Kelly, Aidan Hynes, Joyce O' Grady and Ken Nerney were all
involved in the effort after they'd been alerted by James Brennan.
Meanwhile, Conal Dolan who's a member of Lough Derg Sub Aqua
club was visiting his aunt who lives beside the Shannon in Athlone in June of
2019 when he became involved in a rescue.
He says that while he's a good swimmer he did find the rescue challenging.
