Three teenagers made a lucky escape from a swollen river in Co Wicklow when they got into serious difficulty while using inflatable rings.
The drama unfolded on Thursday afternoon when the teenagers were spotted on the Avonmore River, in the village of Rathdrum, in difficulty due to the fast flowing water following torrential rain from Storm Ellen.
Gardaí, Ambulance service, Fire crews, Mountain Rescue Swift Water Unit and an Irish Coast Guard helicopter were all deployed to the scene.
Following frantic efforts, by emergency services, all three teenagers, who were thought to be visiting the area, were successfully rescued.
They were treated at the scene by ambulance crews but none are thought to have suffered any serious injuries.
However, gardai in Wicklow have issued an appeal for people to stay away from rivers and coastlines due to current weather conditions.
In a statement gardai said: “The three are safe and well but please be careful near coasts and rivers given the current weather and heavy rainfall.”
However, Fine Gael councillor Sylvester Bourke slammed the teenagers’ “reckless behaviour”.
“What were the three thinking to go out on the river in conditions as bad as this. They weren’t only endangering their own lives but those of the emergency services.
“I would appeal to all members of the public to think twice before they go near rivers and the coastlines during dangerous weather conditions.”
