A teenage boy is in critical condition in hospital after getting into difficulty while swimming in Co Monaghan.<\/p>\n
The 16-year-old, who is from Co Tyrone, had been at Emy Lake with his friends when the alarm was raised at around 5pm yesterday.<\/p>\n
He had been in the lake when he was spotted by local swimmers Dzintra McConnon and Johnny McConnell, who took him from the water and performed CPR until an ambulance arrived.<\/p>\n
He was then taken to a local GAA pitch before being airlifted to the Mater Hospital in Dublin.<\/p>\n
Ms Connon said she had been in the area for a swim when she saw the boy going under the water.<\/p>\n
“I said to my friend let’s swim there and started shouting ‘help, help\u2019.” she said.<\/p>\n
“We got him eventually and lifted him out and started CPR until the ambulance arrived.”<\/p>\n
She said she is now thinking of the boy and his family as he is in hospital.<\/p>\n
Local Fine Gael councillor for Monaghan Pauric Clerkin said there is a “sense of devastation” in the community as people are keeping the boy in their thoughts.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019re sending our prayers and hope to the family and friends of that young boy, and hoping that he pulls through.”<\/p>\n