Volunteer at Darkness into Light helps save man who fell into river

Louise Walsh

A Meath emergency volunteer was on his way home from the Darkness to Light event when he helped to save a distressed man who had fallen from a bridge.

Jamie Rennicks is now highlighting the importance of life-rings at rivers which, he says, are often taken and vandalised.

He was on his way home from the walk for suicide awareness in Navan when he noticed a young man on Flowerhill bridge at 10am on Saturday.

As the 21-year old - who is a member of the local Meath River Rescue group - pulled over in his jeep, the distraught man fell backwards into the River Blackwater.

Jamie and the man's relative who had been trying to talk to him rushed to help as they saw him in the fast-flowing waters.

"I was helping to steward on the bridges as part of the Meath River Rescue group  during the Darkness to Light event and hand out refreshments afterwards in the Navan Rugby Club," he said.

"I brought a few things back up to the boat house and was on my way home when I saw the man, who appeared distressed, on the bridge.  I was in the Rescue jeep so I turned on the blue lights and pulled over, just as he entered the water."

Jamie (pictured on a training exercise with MRR above) and the relative managed to keep the man afloat with nearby life rings three times, but unfortunately he disappeared under the water again.

"I ran to get the River Rescue boat and asked the other man to keep an eye out for him in the water.  Emergency services including gardai, fire services, helicopter and ambulance were also en route.

"When I got back a brave passer-by had stopped and luckily had a life-jacket in his car.  He thankfully had brought the man to safety and had handed him to the paramedics at the scene."

The young man was taken to hospital for treatment

"I only did what anyone else would do. I have completed a lot of courses as a member of the Meath River Rescue so the training kicked in but fortunately while I was getting more help, the other passer-by was able to get him out of the water to safety.

"Another thing, I'd just like to say is that we managed to keep that man afloat initially with life rings. Luckily they were in place as on many occasions, the River Rescue have had to replace them, after they were taken and vandalised."

Chairman of Meath River Rescue, Christopher Rennicks also highlighted the importance of the rings saying: "In the last week alone, five out of about 15 life-rings in the town have been taken and vandalised.  

Murky..A picture of the River Boyne taken from the bridge at Johnstown/Athlumney during the Darkness into Light Run/Walk last Saturday

"People just throw them into the river for kicks but it's in events like this that people should realise just how important they are in helping to save a life."

More than 200,000 people across Ireland and the world participated in the Darkness into Light event which raises awareness on suicide, self-harm and mental health.

Walkers, runners and joggers rose early for the 4am start to the 5km trek in 180 venues nationally.

Darkness Into Light is Pieta House's biggest fundraising appeal and raises more than €4 million to help fund its services.