Young Clare boy thanks his rescuers for saving him from drowning

AN EIGHT year-old boy who was saved from drowning on a West Clare beach has thanked the rescuers that saved his life.

Aidan William Cordeiro was swimming at Doughmore Beach on August 13, when he was swept out to sea by intense riptides.

The Kilkee and Doolin units of the Irish Coast Guard were dispatched to the incident along with Rescue 115 from Shannon. A number of people on the beach attempted to reach Aidan, but their attempts were in vain.

Rescue 115 arrived on scene and were able to see that Aidan was struggling badly to stay afloat.

CHC Winchman/Paramedic Philip Wrenn was lowered down to the boy but due to difficult sea conditions, Philip made the decision to release from the winch and swim with Aidan to shore.

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An eye witness account recalled: "The child was a strong enough swimmer to keep himself above water for that long but he started to go under. His head disappeared below the water a few times just before the Coast Guard helicopter arrived."

Following the rescue, Philip said: "We would not normally release from the hoist cable but as Aidan and I were being battered by white water breaking over us I felt to swim with Aidan to the beach was the best and safest course of action “

Aidan was assessed by ambulance paramedics and fortunately did not need to be airlifted to hospital for treatment.

A happy reunion took place with Philip and the CHC Rescue 115 crew, where the family learned that Philip Wrenn was previously presented with the Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Award for Bravery in 2020 for his rescue of two Italian Brothers when they fell 20 metres from a cliff and were washed into the sea at a notorious black spot on Inis Mór known as the Worm Hole.

Aidan's mother Cristiane and father Gerlivan thanked the crew not just for saving Aidan but "for the work they do rescuing people all year round."