The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
ROZ Rogers, mother of eight-year-old Gearóid and wife of Ger, has written to Clare County Council expressing her gratitude for the manner in which two Rice College pupils saved her son and husband’s lives in Spanish Point on Monday, July 18 last.
The family, who live in Killaloe, visited the southern end of Spanish Point beach that day. Gearóid and his father Ger, who is an experienced swimmer, took to the water.
“Within minutes and in what appeared to be shallow water, Gearóid got into difficulty,” Roz recalled in a letter to the local authority, commending the rescue effort.
Ger, who is an experienced diver and has worked with Killaloe Search and Rescue, went to his son’s rescue. “As I watched with my younger son, Ciarán, I realised that Ger was also in trouble,” Roz added.
Just as the father and son were struggling to escape in an area of water outside the lifeguard zone, surfers Bernard Cahill and Donough Cronin were exiting the water with their surfboards.
Seeing what was happening and accompanied by the lifeguards stationed nearby, they raced to save Gearóid and Ger.
“Like dolphins, Bernard and Donough glided into the water with their surfboards and in record time, Bernard had Gearóid up on his surf board and brought him to the shore,” Roz recollects.
“He ensured that Gearóid was safe and wrapped in foil before he returned to the water. Together with the team, he formed and reformed a triangle with the surf boards and succeeded, under very difficult conditions, in bringing Ger to the shore,” Roz explained.
Pointing out that all involved in the rescue effort showed “huge personal skills and character,” Roz recommended that they should be recognised for their bravery.
“If there are rewards for bravery, water skills, team work and fantastic character, these brave young men deserve them,” the relieved mother and wife said.
“I thank God that Bernard and Donough were there that day and I am so grateful to them both. Without a moment’s hesitation they risked their own lives to save Gearóid and Ger,” Roz concluded.
