Warning after near drowning incident
Teen critical after getting into difficulty at popular
A YOUTH remains in a “critical” condition in hospital after a near-drowning incident in Emy Lough on Monday evening, May 25.
Two local experienced swimmers rescued the teenager who got into difficulty swimming in the lake, which is approximately 2kms from Emyvale village.
The incident on the hottest day of the year at the Co Monaghan beauty spot has sparked renewed calls for public awareness around water safety.
Local reports say two young men were swimming in the lough when one got into difficulty. Two people saw the distress unfolding from the shore and swam out to assist but ‘lost him’ underwater. Two experienced local swimmers who were already in the water at the time also went to help and one of them, a member of the Emy Ducks swimming group, dived under water and brought the youth to the surface.
The experienced man managed to grab hold of the teenager and pull him to the shore where he performed CPR on the youth until paramedics arrived.
As locals ran to get a defibrillator from Emyvale Leisure Centre about three minutes away, emergency services including paramedics, Monaghan Fire and Rescue Service and Gardaí arrived on the scene.
The quick actions of people on the shore alerting emergency services and performing CPR meant the young man was breathing when he was taken to the local GAA pitch at Tully where the air ambulance had landed.
He was later taken to the Mater Hospital where a garda spokesperson said his condition remained ‘critical’ on Tuesday.
A statement from Gardaí confirmed: “Gardaí and emergency services responded to a report of a male youth having gotten into difficulty in the water at Emy Lough, Emyvale, Co Monaghan, at around 5pm on May 25.
“Medical assistance was provided at the scene, and he was airlifted to the Mater Misercordiae University Hospital, Dublin, where his condition is described as critical.”
The incident has also sparked calls on social media for a defibrillator to be installed at Emy Lough, which is used by anglers and coldwater swimmers and includes picnic tables, public toilets and The Loop Walk, which is popular with walkers and runners.
People in the vicinity at the time believe the young man was swimming out to ‘the box’, which, is about 500 metres from the shore.
Emy Lough is a reservoir. The ‘metal box’ is a water extraction and treatment facility used by the local group water scheme to supply drinking water. It floats above water and, as such, acts like a focal point for bathers to swim to.
Last year, Donagh Development Association erected a pyramid structure atop the metal cube to deter people from swimming out and resting on it.
“People don’t realise the distance to the box,” secretary of the local development association and member of Emy Lough Dippers, Deborah McGeough, told the Celt. “It’s 500 metres away and not that easy to reach.
“If ever there was a time to remind people about water safety it’s this evening,” she added. “Please put it in black, bold capital letters to your readers: WEAR A LIFEBUOY!”
Water safety is everyone’s responsibility,” a statement issued to the Celt on behalf of Donagh Development and Emy Lough Dippers said: “By taking simple precautions and encouraging safe practices, we can help ensure that everyone enjoys the water safely throughout the summer season.”