A young Kilcar boy who raised the alarm after his father fell from a cliff has been commended by the HSE’s National Ambulance Service.
Ten-year-old Owen Cunningham came to his father’s assistance after the incident in November 2021.
Owen’s father Seamus was fixing fencing when disaster struck on 16th November 2021.
Realising the danger his father was in and not having a mobile phone with him, Owen ran home and raised the alarm before cycling back to his injured father and waited for help to arrive.
His father, Seamus, was treated for his injuries by NAS staff including a paramedic and Advanced Paramedic from Killybegs Ambulance Station and subsequently airlifted from the scene by the Coast Guard R118 helicopter.
Owen Cunningham, who received a Certificate of Bravery from the National Ambulance Serivce for the part he played in his fathers rescue after a farming accident on their farm in Kilcar Co. Donegal from left are Seamus Cunningham, Owen Cunningham and Declan Murrin, Advance Paramedic. Photo Clive Wasson
Owen Cunningham, who received a Certificate of Bravery from the National Ambulance Serivce for the part he played in his fathers rescue after a farming accident on their farm in Kilcar Co. Donegal from left are Ciaran Duignan, Coast Guard Co Pilot, Darren Cunningham, Martina Cunningham, Seamus Cunningham, Owen Cunningham, Declan Murrin, Advanced Paramedic, Ronan Cunningham, Alannah Cunningham and Michael Love, Killybegs Coast Guard. Photo Clive Wasson
Those who attended the incident were impressed with Owen’s calm and brave response and wanted to acknowledge this with a certificate of bravery, which was presented to him at Kilcar National School earlier today, Wednesday, 2nd February.
The event was attended by NAS Staff, including the Advanced Paramedic and Paramedics who attended the call, coast guard volunteers who assisted in the rescue along with the Coastguard R118 crew who also attended the incident.
Speaking today, Robert Morton, Director of the National Ambulance Service outlined: “On the morning of November 16th last, we received an emergency call in the Donegal area. A man had sustained a serious fall.
“National Ambulance Service paramedics attended and provided care on scene. We were supported by the Coast Guard Helicopter and the man was subsequently transferred to hospital.”
“The alarm was originally raised by a child who was there when the incident occurred and local crews were incredibly impressed by his calm approach throughout the incident.”
Praising his son’s bravery, Owen’s father, Seamus, added: “I’m very proud of Owen… the outcome could have been much worse. He is a very brave boy. It took a lot of guts for him to do what he did. He stayed with me the whole time.”
Owen Cunningham, who received a Certificate of Bravery from the National Ambulance Serivce for the part he played in his fathers rescue after a farming accident on their farm in Kilcar Co. Donegal from left are Cathal McGlynn, Paramedic, Owen Cunningham, and Declan Murrin, Advance Paramedic. Photo Clive Wasson
