TWO hero gardaí have been commended for their bravery following the daring rescue of a man in his seventies who got into difficulty in water.
Garda Randal Considine and Garda Shane Riddell were both presented with Commendations with Distinction in Gort Garda Station last Friday for their actions in saving Killian Kenny from waters in Kinvara.
Mr Kenny, who was at the awards ceremony, thanked the pair for saving his life saying, “Had it not been for you, I wouldn’t be here.”
At around 4.45pm on Thursday, September 19, Garda Considine and Garda Riddell were on duty when they got a call to a small rocky outcrop near Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara where a man had gotten into difficulty in the water.
Like many locals when the tide is out Mr Kenny had walked out to a rocky outcrop a short distance from the shore. As he was wading back his foot and leg became trapped and the tide began to come in dangerously quick.
When the two Gardaí arrived at the scene, only Mr Kenny’s head was visible above water.
In true team spirit, Garda Riddell ran for a life buoy while Garda Considine swam to the man and managed to free him from the rocks, and swim him back to shore, where emergency services were waiting. Mr Kenny made a full recovery from the incident.
At the presentation Mr Kenny recalled, “The tide rose so fast, I could feel it coming up to my shoulders, then I could feel it coming to my chin. Randal, after going down to release my boot from the rocks, swam me back to shore. It was heroic. Had it been two minutes later, chances are it would be a different story.”
Receiving his commendation, Garda Considine said, “We’re glad we got there in time, we got a bit of a shock when we looked over the wall and could only see your head. We’re happy to have got you out and safely back to your family.”
“Right place, right time,” added Garda Riddell.
Presenting them with Commendations with Distinction in Gort Garda Station Chief Superintendent Gerry Roche said, “You are both awarded Commendations with Distinction for the rescue of a male from the waters at Dunguaire, Kinvara, in circumstances where the male had become trapped in rocks in rapidly rising tide. The male was brought to safety to shore.”
Superintendent Ollie Baker of Galway County East Community Engagement said, “Our response in management was one of total admiration for what the two members did.
“They just acted on instinct and it is a real testament to them; everything they did was phenomenal. It gives me great comfort that we have members of that calibre working in our area and responding and understanding the need to have an immediate response.
“It was a real team effort and it must have been a frightening, shocking and exhilarating experience all at the same time.”
Inspector Georgina Lohan of Galway County East Community Engagement said, “For An Garda Síochána, our mission is to keep people safe and I think, with distinction, that’s what the lads did on that day. They kept you safe.”