Driver rescued from lake by gardaí

Driver rescued from lake by gardaí


Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

A GARDA and a garda reserve were commended for their bravery in rescuing a driver who overturned his car into a lake outside Westport last weekend.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening between 10pm and 11pm when the car was travelling out the N59 Leenane road when it left the road and overturned into a lake, approximately two miles outside Westport.
The Garda Patrol car came upon the accident and the Garda and garda reserve entered the water to try and rescue the driver who was the only person in the car. The gardaí were waist deep in water and while they were unable to remove him from the car, they kept his head above the water until the arrival of the fire brigade who removed him from the car.
The middle-aged driver was transported to Mayo General Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and kept in overnight for observation.
A Garda spokesperson told The Mayo News that the driver was extremely fortunate that the patrol car came upon the accident and commended the bravery of the gardaí for entering the water.
“The driver was very lucky that the patrol car came upon him shortly after the accident occurred because it would have been very difficult to see the car in the lake from the road. The car was overturned in the water and the two gardaí were up to their waist in the water. While they could not open the doors, they managed to keep the man’s head above the water until the fire brigade arrived.”
Anyone who may have any information on the incident is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 50230.

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