A young Donegal man who plucked two drowning youths from the sea never found out who they were.
A brave but very modest Shaun Haughey.
Brave Shaun Haughey, 21, jumped into the waters at Lough Swilly off Rathmullan Pier after spotting the two young men in distress.
The youths were part of a group of four men who were swimming at the pier.
But strong currents at the notoriously dangerous swimming spot dragged the men several metres away from the pier.
Two of the men managed to make it back safely to the pier but the other two began to go under the water.
Friends of the men managed to throw them a lifebuoy but forgot to hold onto the rope and it floated away.
Shaun was fishing off the pier with his girlfriend when the drama began to unfold.
Without any thought for his own safety, Shaun stripped off his clothes and dived into the cold waters shortly after 9pm on Sunday night last.
Gentle-giant Shaun managed to grapple with the two youths and was able to push them onto a moored boat and eventually to safety.
Crowds cheered heroic Shaun, from the village of Drumkeen, as he emerged from the water.
But when he went looking to check on the youths, they had disappeared.
A modest Shaun said he was only doing his civic duty.
The incident took place at Rathmullan Pier
It later transpired that he hadn’t even told his family or friends about his actions which undoubtedly saved the lives of two young men.
He went to work at Medisize medical company in Letterkenny and his friends were none the wiser that they were working alongside a real-life hero.
“I just did what anybody else would have done. My instincts just kicked in and I was just so happy that I was able to get them out and that they were okay,” he said.
And Shaun, who plays soccer for Glenree FC, said he certainly doesn’t want any recognition or reward for what he did.
“I’m just glad the lads are okay. I didn’t even get to know who they were because they went away so quickly.
“But they seemed okay and that’s all that matters really,” he said.
* Are you one of the men Shaun saved and want to thank him. Contact info@donegaldaily.com.
