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On the 8th March last, one of the largest Rescue operations in the Cork harbour area swung into action when a car drove off the cross river ferry between Passage West and Cobh.
Two occupants of the vehicle were seen in the river immediately afterwards and Mr John Geary who lives near the ferry, heard the commotion and saw Lifebouys being thrown into the water from the ferry.
In the failing light, Mr Geary immediately launched his small rowing boat and paddled to the scene where he managed to locate one of the casualties. The small boat was in danger of being swamped when the survivor tried to climb in, but, Mr Geary managed to get the survivor to hold onto the stern of the boat and rowed him to the shore, where with another member of the public, they took him out of the water and handed him to medical personnel. Sadly, the second occupant of the vehicle was never found.
Crosshaven volunteer RNLI Lifeboat attended the scene along with the other rescue services and felt that Mr Gearys selfless actions in saving life were beyond normal expectations and reported Mr Geary’s rescue to the RNLI Headquarters in Poole. It was agreed that Mr Gearys actions warranted that he be honoured, and he has been awarded a framed “letter of Thanks” from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and signed by Mr Andrew Freemantle , the Chief Executive.
The citation reads in part “ I want to commend you on behalf of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for your public spirited and most commendable actions which resulted in the saving of the mans life. Well done. Indeed.”
