Rice College heroes presented with Irish Water Safety awards

TWO Rice College Ennis pupils, who rescued Ger Rogers and his eight year-old son, Gearóid, at Spanish Point beach on July 18, were presented with an Irish Water Safety award at Dublin Castle on Tuesday.
Bernard Cahill and Donough Curtin were surfing in Spanish Point that day when they noticed that Ger, who lives in Killaloe, was experiencing difficulty in rescuing his young son from the water.
“As I watched with my younger son, Ciarán, I realised that Ger was also in trouble,” Roz Rogers, Ger’s wife said in a letter written to Clare County Council expressing her gratitude for the manner in which the pupils saved her son’s and husband’s lives.
Just as the father and son were struggling to escape, in an area of water that was outside of the lifeguard zone, Bernard and Donough were exiting the water with their surf boards.
Seeing what was happening and accompanied by the life guards stationed nearby, they raced to save Gearóid and Ger.
“Like dolphins, Bernard and Donough glided into the water with their surf boards and in record time, Bernard had Gearóid up on his surf board and brought 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 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.
On Tuesday, Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government presented a Seiko Just in Time Rescue Award to Bernard and Donough.
Now in its 11th year, the Just in Time Award recognises the efforts of a member of the public to save a person from drowning “just in time”.