Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Google Streetview

21-year-old recounts how she rescued family who got into difficulty off Donegal coast

A father and his three daughters got into difficulty in the water off Portsalon beach.

A YOUNG WOMAN has recounted on RTÉ’s Liveline how she rescued a man and his daughters after they got into difficulty off the Donegal coast.

This day last week, 21-year-old Jane Friel was having a picnic on Portsalon beach in Donegal when she overheard a woman on the beach calling for help.

Jane told presenter Joe Duffy that the woman thought her husband and children were drowning. So Jane ran into the sea in her jeans and shirt. 

“I pulled off my jacket, my shoes and my sunglasses and went running towards the water,” she said, adding that she had trained as a lifeguard but had never worked as one.

Jane was given the life ring and swam out to a man and his three daughters, who had got into difficulty after “they got pulled out too far by a riptide”.

The girls appeared to be between the ages of 8 and 13, and although Jane said they could all swim, they had simply gone out too far into the sea.

Jane gave the life ring to the youngest girl who was “visibly upset”, she swam with her a little bit, and someone on the beach pulled her in to shore.

She went back out and calmed the other girl down, getting her to hold on to her bodyboard, and swimming back to shore with her. She told her “if a wave came, we’d kick as hard as we can”.

The father, who told Jane he was not a strong swimmer, was able to bring the third girl back to shore. 

“He did great to even keep them above the water until some was out.”

She said that there was a riptide or something else that pulled the family out.

Even when the first girl got back in and I went out to the second girl, even the distance that it had pulled me out when I turned back around to face the beach it was unbelievable how far we’d even been pulled out, from when I went in. 

“We all got back in safely,” she said. “We were very lucky.”

Jane said she’s been in contact with the family since as they have thanked her.

The RNLI has asked people taking part in water activities to take the following precautions:

  • Have a plan – check the weather forecast, tide times and read local hazard signage
  • Keep a close eye on your family – on the beach and in the water
  • Don’t allow your family to swim alone
  • Don’t use inflatables at all, at all on the sea
  • If you fall into the water unexpectedly, FLOAT TO LIVE. Fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and Float
  • In an emergency dial 999 or 112, and ask for the Coast Guard.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
10 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken
    Favourite Ken
    Report
    Aug 4th 2020, 11:11 PM

    Fair play to her. Didn’t even think about it by the sounds of it just went straight out. Hero.

    498
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Green Lentils
    Favourite Green Lentils
    Report
    Aug 4th 2020, 10:49 PM

    Brave girl…well done. I got caught in a rip tide in Oz and it’s damn scary and exhausting if you’re trying to swim directly back to shore because you don’t know you’re meant to swim parallel to shore. It will eventually pull you back in as their force moves in an arc. I only found this out after it had happened and I almost died of exhaustion trying against the rip.

    511
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
    Favourite Patricia O'Reilly
    Report
    Aug 4th 2020, 11:18 PM

    A true hero, what an incredible young lady.

    342
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rosa Lopez
    Favourite Rosa Lopez
    Report
    Aug 4th 2020, 11:34 PM

    What an angel! The family must have been so scared, she reacted like a true hero. And a clever one, by the sound of it she took control of the situation and managed to calm them down. An amazing brave girl!

    306
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Phelan
    Favourite Dave Phelan
    Report
    Aug 5th 2020, 5:42 AM

    Heard her on radio yesterday. Fantastic 21 year old. She must be given the Irish states highest bravery award. What a girl and her parents must be so so proud of her.

    186
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kate Reddin
    Favourite Kate Reddin
    Report
    Aug 5th 2020, 7:06 AM

    I was in ballybunion on Monday and the lifeguards were on the ball. As soon as a rip was spotted they marked off the unsafe area for swimming and patrolled the waters edge. When people continued to enter the area with the current two of the lifeguards went in on surfboards and blocked it in the sea. Loads of lifeguards on duty. It always feels very safe for swimming

    106
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fachtna Roe
    Favourite Fachtna Roe
    Report
    Aug 5th 2020, 12:48 AM

    Kudos.

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Hayes
    Favourite Dave Hayes
    Report
    Aug 5th 2020, 8:32 AM

    Amazing job well done!!!

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Linus Robin
    Favourite Linus Robin
    Report
    Aug 5th 2020, 11:38 AM

    Nice to read a positive story :)

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chief Buck Cat
    Favourite Chief Buck Cat
    Report
    Aug 5th 2020, 4:07 PM

    Incredibly brave lady.

    13
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds