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Swimmer rescued at Culdaff beach
10.07.10
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A MOVILLE boy was lucky
to escape with his life after getting into
difficulties at Culdaff beach last weekend.
Twelve-year-old Robbie McLaughlin was rescued from
the choppy waters by cousin, Liam Conlon, who
heroically swam to his aid.
A pupil at Scoil Eoghain, Robbie was at the long
strand on Saturday with a number of cousins when he
decided to go for a swim on his own.
After floating in the swirling waters for a few
minutes Robbie hadn’t noticed that the tide had
taken him quite a distance from the shore.
He attempted desperately to swim back to land but
was unable to make any headway against a
strengthening current. |
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The quick-thinking
Moville lad managed to stand on a rock under the
water but the waves were whipping away at him and he
was starting to lose his strength.
“There was a windsurfer coming past me all the time
and I was shouting for help but he couldn’t hear me.
I was very afraid. I was just trying to hold onto
the rock as best I could when when my cousin Liam
Conlon heard me and swam towards me,” Robbie said.
Liam, who is just two months older than Robbie,
pulled his stricken cousin by the arm and swam
ashore with him, saving his life.
When asked if he was afraid Liam said: “I didn’t
even think about |
that. I heard Robbie
shouting for help so I just swam out to him and
helped him ashore.”
Robbie’s relieved father, Gerry McLaughlin, gave
brave Liam a €100 reward after the daring rescue.
“If it wasn’t for Liam I could have been going to my
son’s funeral. I’ll be forever grateful to him. He’s
now my favourite nephew!” Gerry said.
Meanwhile, Gerry and Robbie left for America on
Wednesday for the wedding of Gerry’s daughter Margot
in Philadelphia. Everything could have been very
different without young Liam’s valiant intervention.
(Inishowen Independent) |
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