Carole Divine, Principal of St Fergal’s College, with students Emmanuel Collins Begado and MJ Muldowney, who received the CPR 4 Schools Heroes Award, and former Deputy Principal, PJ Delaney.

Two young Laois students have been recognised for their quick thinking and life-saving actions after helping save a friend who got into difficulty while swimming.

The pair, 14-year-olds Emmanuel Collins Begadon and MJ Muldowney from St Fergal’s College in Rathdowney, have been presented with CPR 4 Schools Heroes Awards by the Irish Heart Foundation in recognition of their bravery.

The incident occurred when a group of students from St Fergal’s College, along with a student from another local school, were swimming in a nearby river.

After entering the cold water, one of the St Fergal’s students suffered a suspected seizure.

Emmanuel, a first-year student, and MJ, who is in second year, reacted immediately.

They safely removed their friend from the water and began administering CPR while recalling the skills they had learned through the Irish Heart Foundation’s CPR 4 Schools programme.

The students also placed their friend in the recovery position and contacted the emergency services, remaining calm until paramedics arrived at the scene.

Their actions were later praised by emergency responders, who said the boys’ swift intervention and effective use of CPR techniques played a significant role in ensuring a positive outcome.

Thankfully, the student who was rescued has since made a full recovery.

St Fergal’s College Principal Carole Devine paid tribute to the students, describing their actions as heroic.

“As a community, all of our staff and pupils at St Fergal’s College are incredibly proud of the heroic actions of the three boys who helped save their friend,” she said.

“We are all delighted that they are each being recognised for their rapid response, presence of mind and ability to remain calm in such a frightening emergency situation.”

The Irish Heart Foundation said the incident highlights the importance of equipping young people with potentially life-saving skills.

Brigid Sinnott, Resuscitation Manager with the organisation, said: “This incident is a powerful reminder of how essential CPR training is, particularly for young people.

“Through our CPR 4 Schools programme, students gain not only practical skills but also the confidence to act in emergency situations.

“These students are a true example of that in action. This story also shows that we all have the power to save a life.

“We would encourage everyone to learn CPR so that you can take life-saving action when someone needs urgent help.”

The CPR 4 Schools initiative is a free programme delivered in post-primary schools across Ireland and teaches students the fundamentals of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

To date, the programme has reached 82% of secondary schools nationwide, providing training to more than 370,000 students and helping to create a new generation of lifesavers.

The recognition of Emmanuel Collins Begadon and MJ Muldowney serves as a timely reminder that, regardless of age, the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency can make all the difference.
Carole Divine, Principal of St Fergal’s College, with students Emmanuel Collins Begado and MJ Muldowney, who received the CPR 4 Schools Heroes Award, and former Deputy Principal, PJ Delaney.

SEE ALSO – From Here to There: How a Portlaoise man turned a childhood dream into a career flying for Ryanair