A total of 19 lives were saved from drowning by heroic rescuers from all parts of the country, which included several members of An Garda Síochana, who received due recognition at Water Safety Ireland’s National Annual Awards Ceremony for 2024 in Dublin Castle’s Hibernia Conference Centre in early October.
Each year Water Safety Ireland’s National Awards Ceremony honours people who have saved a life from drowning, as well as individuals who have made a significant contribution to drowning prevention.
A number of Gardaí joined forces with Water Safety Ireland volunteers and members of the general public in Dublin Castle on 3 October to receive their ‘Seiko Just in Time’ and rescue appreciation awards for saving 19 lives from drowning across 16 different incidents in recent years.
On making the presentations to the 32 recipients, Anne Rabbitte TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, paid tribute to “the courageous and deserving recipients” and commended the “valiant efforts of these individuals who saved others from drowning” and acknowledged the “ongoing work of volunteers from Water Safety Ireland who teach swimming and water rescue skills” throughout the country each year.
The other recipients to receive awards included Water Safety Ireland’s 136 volunteers who were presented with Long-Service Volunteer Awards – recognising a combined total of 2,535 years of personal voluntary service teaching swimming, water rescue and survival skills in communities nationwide. “That is a remarkable achievement, and I commend every volunteer who devotes their spare time to making our waters safer,” Minister Rabbitte noted.
Water Safety Ireland’s CEO Joanne Walsh stated: “Safety is a small investment required for the delivery of a rich future, and in order to make this happen we need everyone to be water safety aware and water safety conscious. Drownings can happen quickly and silently but with the right knowledge, skills and attitudes everyone can avoid the hazards and take responsibility for their own safety.”
