A brave local woman jumped into the river Barrow in Carlow town last night in an attempt to save a drowning man's life.
Sadly, the man died shortly after he was pulled to safety by onlookers including one young woman who jumped in and helped keep him afloat.
Siobhán Ryan, 24, from Graiguecullen, said she had been walking her dog in Carlow town park when she heard a commotion and saw the man struggling in the water.
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Recalling the incident to The Carlow Nationalist, she said a guy next to her told her he couldn't swim so she "ran and jumped in.
She added: "Iwasn’t able to hold the man up and swim. It was one or the other, but another guy jumped in and we were able to get him together, grab hold of a ring and another man pulled us in.”
The onlookers attempted in vain to assist the man and bring him to safety and pulled him out onto the decking near where boats were moored.
Siobhan said she was "so sad" to later hear the man had passed away as she believed at the time he had been saved.
The tragic incident occurred at around 9.20pm on Wednesday close to the town park area of the town in Graiguecullen which straddles the Carlow and Laois border.
The man, who is believed to be in his 30s and from the area, got into difficulties shortly after entering the river.
Ambulance crews, fire units and gardai arrived on scene within minutes after the man was pulled from the water, but despite desperate efforts to revive him he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gardaí are treating his death as a tragic accident and foul play is not suspected.
A garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the recovery of a body from the River Barrow in Graiguecullen, Co Carlow at approximately 9:20pm yesterday.
“He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was conveyed to University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem will take place at a later date”.
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