The daughter of a woman who is good friends with Joanna Wisniowśka, who drowned in tragic circumstances on Sunday, witnessed the incident unfold at the East Cork beach.
Lousie Van Balderen, a dear friend of Joanna's, has set up a GoFundMe to assist Joanna's heartbroken family, which include the Polish native's partner Maciej and their two children, Stanislaw and Zofia.
Ms Van Balderen told Cork's RedFM that her own daughter, who is best friends with Joanna's daughter, was at the beach with the family at the time when the tragedy unfolded.
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In an emotional interview, she said of her own daughter: "She is in a position, where she thinks if she would have gone in to help, it would have been a different situation. We keep telling her that what she did in getting help and finding a lady on the beach is good enough."
She has been stressing to her daughter that if she had gone in too they might not be hugging her today.
Joanna Wisniowśka lost her life on Sunday after getting into difficulty in the water off Ballycroneen beach in East Cork, while attempting to save her 10-year-old son. She was transferred to Cork University Hospital after being taken from the water by the RNLI, however she was later pronounced dead.
Louise recalled how her friend Joanna came to her door that day and asked if anyone wanted to go to the beach. "Like she had done so many times. It was just supposed to be a quick trip to the beach and back again," she recounted on air.
She pleaded with people over the summer to watch over their children and be wary of dangerous riptides.
"It's like a bad dream that nobody can wake up from," the mother said.
When asked about Joanna's own bereaved daughter, Louise said that she keeps asking 'When is mamma coming back, I want to be with her' and at this point in time, people are rallying together doing their best to support the family.
"A mum is the frontline. A mum is someone you go to with a scraped knee or a broken heart. She is the frontline of the family. Even for her husband, it is such a difficult time. He is broken," she said.
The community of Cloyne, County Cork has been rallying behind the family, bringing food, refreshments and heartfelt support.
On her son, that Joanna managed to save before losing her own life, Louise said: "He has cuts and bruises from the rocks, but is coping in his own way. It's going to be difficult for him. Children don't comprehend for a couple of weeks, when it hits that this is the new reality and there is no mum."
She added that everyone will have to support them for a "very long time."
"She was just the softest person, she lived for her children, I couldn't tell you of a better mum She was such a kind and warm person, that no one could ever fault," Louise said, adding: "She was such a beautiful human being."
