Cork woman hailed as hero following rescue of child from River Lee

A passerby who risked her own life to save a three-year-old girl who had fallen into a river has been praised on social media for her heroism.

Maria Foley from Cobh, who is in her 30s, leaped into the water in a bid the rescue the child, who fell into the water on Patrick’s Quay in the city centre, near Brian Boru bridge.

She held the child above water until the fire and ambulance services arrived.