A STUDENT garda has been praised for saving the life of a drowning man in Dún Laoghaire, writes Ronan McGreevy.
Diarmuid Moriarty (20), from Limerick, held on to the man for 15 minutes in the water before both were rescued by the RNLI.
Garda Moriarty, who is from Limerick and is currently a probationary garda, was on duty when ambulance control contacted Dún Laoghaire Garda station to say that a man was in the sea off the East Pier on Thursday night.
The drowning man was losing consciousness and could not reach the lifebuoys that were being thrown to him.
Garda Moriarty was lowered 25 feet into the water. His colleagues threw him a ring buoy. He held on to it and to the 44-year-old man until the RNLI lifeboat, which was located nearby, was able to come and bring both of them to shore.
RNLI crewman David Branigan said Garda Moriarty had acted "above and beyond the call of duty" in rescuing the man and had put his life on the line.
"He dived in fully clothed, facing unknown risks. It is the last form of rescue advised when retrieving someone from the sea, but, fair play to him, it was incredible that he was able to hang on that long and he definitely saved the man's life."
The incident, which occurred in front of the boathouse at the East Pier, happened at around 10pm.
The RNLI lifeboat was called at 10.10pm and the two men were pulled from the water at 10.22pm.
The man who Garda Moriarty rescued was removed by ambulance to St Vincent's hospital, where he was examined. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Garda Moriarty returned to duty at the station after the incident.