'I was holding on for dear life': Cork father who clung to son was seconds from losing grip on buoy

Rescued from the water, Damien and Muruthi O'Donovan, from Dunkettle, at the back beach area where the rescue took place. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

A father who clung to a fishing buoy with his son for 40 minutes after they were swept out to sea by strong currents said he was seconds away from losing his grip when help arrived.

Damien O’Donovan spoke of the relief he felt when a local man and five teenagers plucked him and his son, Muruthi, nine, from the water off Fountainstown in Co Cork on Sunday evening, averting an almost certain double-tragedy.