Strange days…..
Published by bbt May 27th, 2007 in bernard, personal, runningwithbulls.comSundays are normally quiet in my life. Get up, coffee, breakfast…and newspapers.
This morning was as normal (with a slight pain in my head after some nice red wine last night).
I went to my nephew’s third birthday in the afternoon and left at about 7ish.
As I was walking home across Cross Gunns bridge, I saw an old guy (he looked very very drunk) stagger/stumble walking alongside the canal. Thought nothing of it, continued on, and rang Belén. While I was talking to her I saw him stagger and this time go head over heels into the canal.
I don’t know why, but I ran across the street, and looked over the bridge and saw him turning over 2 or three times. I jumped onto the bridge, and took down the lifebouy, and ran to the edge.
By this time he was face down and not moving. I took everything out of my pockets, left it on the edge, and threw down the buoy, shouting all the time. I hit him on the back a number of time but he didn’t move. Finally I jumped in, and turned him. He was blue and his eyes were completely dilated.
I started EAR and he began to splutter. Here I was in the canal, after expecting to be at home by this time.
The fire brigade and ambulance from the Mater arrived. They fished the guy out on a body strap and into an ambulance. Then I got out and they put me in the other ambulance going to the Mater too.
Bizarre…here I am at home now. The guy is alive, and talking apparently.
And now I am wondering what the f*&k happened…I am not fully sure why I am writing this. I think its to try and figure out exactly what happened.
The most funny part of it all was, when I got to the hospital to ring Belén and my sister, I saw a message from Belén “Don’t do anything stupid. You are not to jump in the river. I am calling you now.”
Heh.
I don’t know.
5 Responses to “Strange days…..”
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Well done Bernard
Very impressive
Wow, I can’t say that I can imagine what it must feel like Bernard, to think that you’ve saved somebody’s life? You can be very proud of yourself mate, well done.
Congrats on such a good deed.
U should get a civic/best boy scout award or somethin’?
Hard 2 say how’d I react in a similiar situation.
Lal
I always strangely in the back on my head wanted to do something heroic like that, but without some1 having to endanger their life of course.
Well done
Martin
Well done Bernard,
All those Saturday evenings of lifesaving courses and instructing in Waterford Glass pool have finally paid off!
Yes, it is a bit shocking to realise that you jumped in and saved someone. I had a similar experience in France (drunk guy pulled out of the water, not breathing), but I just froze. I helped the lifeguard (a group of us were staying in his place that evening). He was having trouble getting the oxygen to work and then had to call for a helicopter. I don’t remember much (about 9 years ago, now) except feeling a bit useless. The guy survived in the end, thankfully.
Anyway, be proud of yourself.
Talk soon,
Andrew