Maitiú Clerkin, with his friends Dualta Bracken and Turlagh McDaid, and uncle Joe Herron, went to the rescue of local Sinn Féin county councillor Brian Carr and his son (9) and niece (10) on Tramore Beach at Ardara near Glenties last Friday.
Mr Clerkin said it was a “lovely day” when his group went surfing at the popular beach.
“We were just lying out on the beach, and Turlagh was saying the waves had just kind of picked up,” he told RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland.
“We decided we’d go down, and we were just walking down towards the water, and a woman started coming towards us screaming for help.
“In the moment, I could see that there was two kids further out in the water, so me and Dualta had our boards with us, so I started paddling out towards the two kids and got them.
“Then, I looked back and Brian was in difficulty, so I pointed at him, and then Dualta started making his way towards Brian.”
Maitiú Clerkin, Dualta Bracken, Turlagh McDaid, and Joe Herron who rescued local councillor Brian Carr and his son and a niece. Photo: North West newspix
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – August 22nd
Meanwhile, Dualta, who was one of the students awaiting his Leaving Cert results today, said they “both just happened to be in the right place at the right time”.
“I’m very lucky to be able to say that. As Maitiú said, we just were going in for a surf as any other day, obviously not expecting the situation to unfold like that.
“And then Maitiú jumped in straight away after we heard the lady in distress. It was obviously very unexpected, and it just shows that it’s important for everyone to have basic first aid skills and life-saving skills.
“Because it’s not like we expected that to happen. It’s just an everyday experience, and then all of a sudden it turns into a critical situation like that.”
Maitiú Clerkin, Dualta Bracken, Turlagh McDaid, and Joe Herron who rescued local councillor Brian Carr and his son and a niece. Photo: North West newspix
The councillor’s son and niece went for a swim in the water and soon were swept by a strong current.
Mr Clerkin said the children were “so brave in the water”.
“Brian was going out to save them, and they had been swept out, and they were just treading water. And the girl had a bodyboard, which was helping her, but the little boy had started swimming lessons not long before.
“They’re amazing, they were treading water so well, and staying so calm. Once they knew that we needed to get to Brian as quick as we could, they held on to the board,” Mr Clerkin said.
Meanwhile, Cllr Carr, who is currently in the hospital, was “coming up and down” and swallowed water.
Cllr Brian Carr being taken to hospital by SAR 118. Photo: North West newspix
Mr Clerkin continued: “It was critical. Fair play to Dualta, he got Brian pulled up on the board, and then we made a joint effort to get everyone in together, get to where we could stand.
“And then Turlagh and Joe hopped in as well and helped. We dragged Brian up, and the two kids literally ran up the beach to their relatives.”