By Becky Hammill
The quick thinking and lifesaving instincts of a 14-year-old girl prevented possible tragedy in Ballisodare on Monday.
Sligo teenager Ruth Conlon-Oates spotted a young man in trouble in the Ballisodare river as she was relaxing at a small park near the Ballisodare bridge, and jumped in to pull him to safety.
While sunbathing with her friends at around 5pm, the Mercy college student became aware of Wayne Doyle, also 14, in trouble in the water and her lifeguard training, completed 3 years ago, swung into action.
“Wayne had fallen into the deeper part of the water and was struggling and screaming so I knew I had do something, the screams were just running through my head,” Ruth told the Sligo Weekender.
“I jumped in but I couldn’t pull him out so I had to get behind and push him to the shore where some other boys helped get him out. I never thought I’d have to use my training to save a life.”
More from Ruth’s heroic story can be found in this week’s edition of the Sligo Weekender or by buying the online edition of the newspaper.
Quick thinking teen saves a life,
