You’re Fab: Rescuer thanked for saving mum and son

A pregnant young mother who was pulled to safety after jumping into a river to save the life of her special needs son has thanked her rescuer.

Liz O’Brien, a mother of four, had collected her three older children from Tralee’s CBS primary school and was on her way back to their grandmother’s house by a well-known short cut along what is known as “The Big River” when Derek, 10, fell into the water on Jan 8.

Ms O’Brien, who is six months’ pregnant, immediately leapt into the water. She managed to reach the nearby bridge and the two of them clung to it.