Edward McAuley
"The children were glad that I got back safely…"
The story...
In the summer of 1977 Edward took his wife and children for a holiday to Barleycove. As the family relaxed and played on the beach Edward’s attention was drawn to the water…
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Edward's son says...
Edward’s son John recounts his memories of the day –
We were on the rocks in Barleycove.Ìý We saw a girl trying to tow in an old man who had drifted out quite far.ÌýÌý He was on his back with his arms out wide but with very little movement.Ìý My sister Suzanne and I saw the girl trying to pull the old man in.Ìý We alerted Dad – the girl began to swim in and we ran up the beach screaming.
By then Dad had got up and I was screaming at him to hurry.Ìý He lowered himself into the water and breast-stroked out.Ìý We did not understand why he was going so slow – we were screaming “hurry dad!â€
Dad got to the man and slowly circled him - just talking to him.Ìý We watched and by now people on the beach were running out with the life-ring.Ìý But it was on a rope and the rope was too short.Ìý People were scrambling to get the thing untied.Ìý They were frantic but Dad just stayed with him.Ìý
The people were by then just coming to the water’s edge with the ring and running into the water.Ìý The old man was on his back drifting out further and dad stayed with him.Ìý It was quite a contrast – the franticness and panic on the beach and Dad out there, calm.Ìý By now five or six minutes had passed.
When dad got the ring out another man joined him – the other man held the ring but the people on the beach pulled so fast the man went under the water.Ìý You and the other man started to yell at everyone to slow down and not pull as hard and fast.Ìý There were probably thirty or forty people on the line.Ìý
I remember asking Dad – ‘why didn’t you go faster?’ and he explained that a drowning person may use you as a float and that he could have died.
I saw that day the power of the tide and the sea and the fact that when it comes to life and death matters, speed is not always the best approach.
I was so proud of my dad that day.ÌýÌýÌýÌý
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Comment on Edward's story
Name: Gwen Dennison
Date: 15/03/2008
Comment: Interested to read Edwards story. It showed his courage and ability to act calmly no matter the impatience of others around him.
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