A 22-year-old man is being hailed a hero after rescuing a young boy and his family from the water off a West Kerry beach yesterday.
Mícheál Keogh, from Enfield Co Meath, was visiting Coumeenole beach near Slea Head when he saw Jacob, a ten-year-old boy, getting into difficulty in the water.
Jacob’s father and two other men, believed to be his uncles, attempted to rescue him but also got difficulty due to strong waves.
Mr Keogh had previously visited the beach and knew parts were dangerous; he was swimming nearby at the time and acted quickly to help.
Local man Dan Sullivan also assisted in the rescue; he ran up the beach to get help and formed a human chain to help pull them from the water.
Mícheál Keogh explains how the rescue unfolded:
The young boy was taken from the beach to University Hospital Kerry by the Shannon 115 rescue helicopter yesterday afternoon and is doing well.
