College president helps save man’s life
Dr Michael Murphy, the president of University College Cork, was presiding over the winter graduation ceremony for business and law students in De Verre Hall in UCC’s Áras na Mac Léinn when the incident occurred.
It is understood that the man, who was among several hundred people in the hall, was a parent of one of the graduates.
He suffered a suspected heart attack and collapsed during the event.
One eyewitness said he was unconscious.
Dr Murphy, who headed up UCC’s former medicine and health college, jumped from the stage and rushed to help, along with a nurse from Dundalk who was also in the audience.
They both rendered medical assistance, including CPR, for several minutes and managed to revive the man as emergency services were alerted.
The man was rushed to Cork University Hospital where his condition was described last night as stable.
Dr Murphy could not be reached for comment last night.
UCC however confirmed that the incident had taken place and that Dr Murphy played a role in rendering medical assistance.
But a spokesperson played down the incident and declined to comment further out of respect for the man’s family.
The conferring ceremonies for students from the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, and for students from the Faculty of Commerce and Faculty of Arts continued without incident.
The ceremonies will conclude today.
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