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11/01/2008
Sea Rescue Bravery Recognised
A Co Armagh man has been recognised for a courageous sea rescue.
Philip McAvoy (44), from Portadown, plunged into the cold Atlantic to help rescue a drowning man.
He is said to have battled large swells and strong currents to help drag the man to safety after he fell from Creevy Pier in Donegal in August 2006.
Philip received a Royal Humane Society Award earlier this week for his actions, along with Sarah Meehan, a nurse from Ballyshannon who also helped in the rescue.
The father-of-two, a volunteer with Lough Neagh Rescue for 16 years, had spent the day at Rossnowlagh beach and was on his way to a restaurant at Creevy with his family when he noticed a commotion at the end of the pier.
"I spied a guy in the water; he was about 50 metres off the end of the pier," Philip said, who leapt into the water along with Ms Meehan to rescue the man.
"It was bad night and there was quite a swell on. We took the guy under tow but the conditions were against us," he said.
"We were in the water almost half an hour.
"We got him out and in the meantime the lifeboat in Bundoran had been called and an Irish helicopter from Sligo was tasked.
"We gave him first aid on the jetty until the ambulance arrived to take him away."
Both Mr McAvoy and Ms Meehan were presented with their awards by HM Lord Lieutenant Lord Caledon in a special ceremony at Craigavon Borough Centre.
"It was a team effort, it was Sarah and myself that did it together," Philip said.
"The two of us worked well together.
"We were both very pleased we were able to help."
Both Philip and Sarah also received a Seiko Just in Time Award at the Irish Safety National Awards Ceremony at Dublin Castle in November 2006.
(BMcC)
Philip McAvoy (44), from Portadown, plunged into the cold Atlantic to help rescue a drowning man.
He is said to have battled large swells and strong currents to help drag the man to safety after he fell from Creevy Pier in Donegal in August 2006.
Philip received a Royal Humane Society Award earlier this week for his actions, along with Sarah Meehan, a nurse from Ballyshannon who also helped in the rescue.
The father-of-two, a volunteer with Lough Neagh Rescue for 16 years, had spent the day at Rossnowlagh beach and was on his way to a restaurant at Creevy with his family when he noticed a commotion at the end of the pier.
"I spied a guy in the water; he was about 50 metres off the end of the pier," Philip said, who leapt into the water along with Ms Meehan to rescue the man.
"It was bad night and there was quite a swell on. We took the guy under tow but the conditions were against us," he said.
"We were in the water almost half an hour.
"We got him out and in the meantime the lifeboat in Bundoran had been called and an Irish helicopter from Sligo was tasked.
"We gave him first aid on the jetty until the ambulance arrived to take him away."
Both Mr McAvoy and Ms Meehan were presented with their awards by HM Lord Lieutenant Lord Caledon in a special ceremony at Craigavon Borough Centre.
"It was a team effort, it was Sarah and myself that did it together," Philip said.
"The two of us worked well together.
"We were both very pleased we were able to help."
Both Philip and Sarah also received a Seiko Just in Time Award at the Irish Safety National Awards Ceremony at Dublin Castle in November 2006.
(BMcC)
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