By Clare Weir
Belfast Telegraph
Copyright 2008 Belfast Telegraph
BELFAST, UK — A brave Londonderry paramedic has told how he leapt into the icy River Foyle to rescue a man who had fallen in - then went home for a change of clothes to continue his shift.
Mickey McConnell, who has worked for the Ambulance Service for seven years, was with colleagues returning to the Northland Road depot from another call when they came across a “commotion” close to the City Hotel at 1.30am on Wednesday morning.
“There were people gathered around beside the river so we got out to take a look,” he explained.
“There was a man underwater and he kept coming up, then slipping under again. The police were there and had thrown a rubber life-belt and asking him to grab it but he couldn’t.
“I was concerned that he couldn’t understand what they were trying to get him to do and that hypothermia was setting in.
“There was a metal ladder leading into the water and we were trying to get him to that.
“Nothing was working so I decided I had to do something and got down into the water, up to about waist height.
“I managed to guide him to the ladder and put his hands on it. Then I had to help him manouvre up the ladder.”
Modest Mickey didn’t tell anyone at ambulance control about his bravery - but merely asked if he could go home for a change of uniform, and then continued with his shift: “I didn’t really think about it, I just knew I had to do something,” he said.
“It’s desperate all the fuss it’s caused, I don’t think it is such a big deal. I have never had to do anything like that before and hopefully never have to again!”
It is understood that the man who fell into the water, who is in his 20s, was kept overnight at Altnagelvin for observation.
Mr McConnell has been roundly praised by his colleagues in the Ambulance Service in both Derry and in Belfast.
Liam McIvor, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, praised the actions and modesty of the crew.
“NIAS staff often find themselves in situations where they must consider putting the needs of a patient before their own safety. This was one such instance,” he said.
“The crew involved did what they felt needed to be done. The only information they felt necessary to pass on to their colleagues in Ambulance Control was that they had come across an incident, had dealt with it and needed time for a change of clothes.
“I fully commend the paramedic for his actions which reflect well on him as an individual and would be typical of many involved in the ambulance and other emergency services who often go beyond the call of duty in their desire to serve the communities in which they live.”