Two teens saved from river after clinging to rocks for an hour
The boy and girl had taken advantage of the sunshine and warm weather and were swimming with friends in the River Deel in the north Limerick town of Askeaton when they got into difficulty.
The alarm was raised at 6.45pm and a rescue operation was launched involving gardaí and units of the fire brigade from Askeaton and Foynes.
Units of Limerick Marine Rescue and Rescue Service travelled from their Limerick city base to assist in the operation.
The Irish Coastguard helicopter, normally based at Shannon Airport, was also sent to assist in the search however it had to travel from Galway where it had relocated earlier in the day to provide safety cover during the Volvo ocean yacht festival.
The teenage friends managed to grab onto rocks and hold on until emergency services arrived.
It is understood that the swimmers had been in the water for over an hour before they were finally taken to safety. Attempts by a number of locals to reach them failed.
They were both taken to safety at around 7.30pm in a coordinated effort by the emergency services.
A Garda spokesperson said: “The teenage boy and girl were swimming in the river at around 6.40pm when they were taken with the current. They managed to grab on to some rocks a short distance down the river and held on until help arrived.
“They were recovered from in the water in a joint operation between gardaí, the fire service and Limerick Marine Search and Rescue. The helicopter was also called in. Both were medically assessed at the scene but they did not require hospitalisation.”
One rescuer said: “They were strong and didn’t panic and that’s what saved them really.
“If the water had been any bit colder, it would have been very difficulty for anyone to hold on for so long.”
The rescue operation was coordinated by the Coastguard radio communications centre at Valentia Island in Kerry.
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