Dean Byrne was turning around to pull two children out of a treacherous lake when he saw their mother staring at him from under the water.

From the roof of the world to its deepest caves and oceans, extreme artist Philip Gray has pushed his body to the limit for his art.

The dangerous Lion's Mane jellyfish has been spotted at several Irish beaches.

A new regulatory framework for water safety at Irish swimming pools is to be implemented following the death of a three-year-old boy last year.

CCTV footage revealed the final movements of Ronan Kennedy, aged three years and ten months, at the Quality Hotel in Youghal, Co Cork.

A woman has brought a High Court challenge over a decision to grant a repossession order in respect of her home.

The privatisation of the country’s swimming pools is having an adverse effect on the provision of safety classes for children, the statutory body established to promote water safety has said.

Ireland’s water safety watchdog has called for compulsory water safety programmes in all schools after figures in its annual report showed a rise in the number of people who died by drowning.

Water safety campaigners have reminded everyone out enjoying themselves by the water to be careful over the August bank holiday weekend.

Irish Water Safety is warning families to play it safe in the current hot spell.

A rare benefit of the poor summer weather has been a significant reduction in the number of swimmers having to be rescued by lifeguards over recent weeks.

Trawler owners, skippers, and workers have been urged to create, as a priority, a greater safety culture within the fishing industry.

The country’s water safety watchdog has appealed for more people to undertake suicide prevention courses, after another spate of drownings that may have been linked to self-harm.

Singer-turned-hero Damien Dempsey didn’t make a song and dance yesterday about the summer day he saved a swimmer’s life. The Dublin native waded into the River Slaney in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, and helped pluck a drowning man to safety.

The number of deaths by drowning in Ireland last year was the lowest in over 75 years.

Lifeguards across the country are combing beaches for infestations of Lion's Manes and Portugese Man O'War jellyfish.

In light of three deaths off the south-west coast in the space of just two days, Irish Water Safety has reiterated critical health and safety advice to anyone intending to swim or take a boat out over the coming days.

Baywatch made it look sexy but in reality, the role of a lifeguard is far more pedestrian, if no less essential: In between saving 413 swimmers last month, lifeguards reunited 353 lost children with parents.

Swimmers are being urged to only swim in beaches that are supervised by lifeguards.

Irish Water Safety say the past week has arguably been one of the most tragic - with eight drownings recorded since the heatwave first began.

A 20-year-old student drowned in Killarney, Co Kerry, last evening, bringing to eight the number of people who have drowned during the current spell of warm weather.

The chief executive of Irish Water Safety (IWS), John Leech, says drowning tragedies are avoidable.

Safety organisations have warned the public to be extremely careful of water after the sixth drowning in a week.

The Government is to offer grant aid to fishermen to help them buy personal locator and vessel location beacons as part of a wide-ranging safety package aimed at the industry.

The section of river where 17-year-old Christopher O’Sullivan got into difficulties and later died has been used by local swimmers for generations.

A 17-year-old boy was fighting for his life last night after he was caught underwater for over 25 minutes.

Irish Water Safety is appealing to people to stay safe around water today following the drowning of a man in Galway yesterday.

WEST Cork has suffered another sea tragedy in the immediate aftermath of the Bantry Bay disaster when a man was swept into the water while fishing.

NEWS that the three men killed in Monday’s boat fire were not wearing lifejackets when picked up by the coastguard has once again raised questions over attitudes to water safety.

SWIMMERS and surfers have been warned to be wary of the venomous weever fish, which they may encounter due to the new moon and spring tides this month.

THERE is no licensing system or regulations for the running of private or public swimming pools in Ireland.

People considering taking to the water this weekend are being warned of cold temperatures and spring tides, according to the Irish Water Safety Association.

SEPARATE investigations have been launched by gardaí and officials from the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) into the tragic accident which claimed the life of a 62-year-old Swiss tourist off the west Cork coast.

A 10-year-old girl who saved her four-year-old brother from drowning today insisted she would do it again in a heartbeat.

ALMOST all inflatable lifejackets on sale in Ireland are practically useless because they are not equipped with life-saving crotch straps.

A UNIQUE security scheme to protect lifebuoys on Irish waterways was launched in Limerick yesterday.

Surfers, anglers and walkers are being urged to be extra careful when out and about this weekend.

MOTHERS, sisters and girlfriends were urged yesterday to warn male family members and partners against drink driving as the bank holiday gets underway.

Those planning on participating in water sports this weekend are being warned to be extra vigilant and to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety.

THE Irish Water Safety Council said not enough was being done to enforce the law which demanded people wore life jackets in small boats.

PARENTS were warned yesterday not to allow their children to use inflatable beach toys after rescue services responded to almost 50 calls in the past week involving children drifting out to sea on the “killer” toys.

ATTEMPTS to rescue two men who drowned, in separate tragedies, were thwarted because neither had been wearing life-jackets at the time, according to inquiries conducted by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board.