Man who saved family among 30 to get water safety honours

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.

“When I pulled her out I found that another child was hanging onto her garment. I can only assume that the woman went into the water before anybody noticed,” said Dean.

The incident happened at Killykeen Forest Park, Co Cavan, last July. Today Dean will receive an Irish Water Safety bravery award in Dublin Castle.