Senator pays tribute to men who tried to save man who drowned

Lynn Ruane raises issue of education about dangers of canal swimming

Senator Lynn Ruane said the two men were probably at home “without any support after what is a tragic experience”. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

A Dublin Senator has paid tribute to the efforts of two young men who attempted to resuscitate another man who drowned in the canal at Portobello bridge in Dublin at the weekend.

Independent Senator Lynn Ruane said she and colleague Independent Senator Alice Mary Higgins witnessed the incident on Friday evening.

Speaking in the Seanad she said the man had entered the water and “two young men jumped in after him”.

She wanted to send condolences to the family of the young man who died.

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She paid tribute to the two men who attempted to revive him. They “spent maybe 10 minutes or so before the ambulance came trying to resuscitate him”.

Ms Ruane said the two men were probably at home “without any support after what is a tragic experience”.

The Trinity College Senator said she wanted to acknowledge the incident as well because such drownings in Dublin’s canals occurred frequently.

“I’m not sure what we do in terms of educating and informing people about the dangers of swimming in the canals especially . . . at night, because it was about 10 o’clock at night when it happened.”

Marie O'Halloran

Marie O'Halloran

Marie O'Halloran is Parliamentary Correspondent of The Irish Times