Garda Mark Irwin was the first person to receive two National Bravery Awards in its 67 year history, after rescuing the lives of the public in two separate incidents in 2012.
Garda Mark Irwin, who was stationed in Westport at the time, was commended for two incidents where both times he rescued drivers who were caught under water following their vehicles falling into Knappaghbeg Lake and the sea.
Attendees at Farmleigh House on Friday heard how Irwin managed to keep the trapped driver of the first car alive by holding his head above the water in a small air pocket for “20 minutes, although it felt much longer”.
The second incident involved both Garda Mark Irwin and his colleague Garda John Boyle faced with a similar situation after a car fell 4.5m into the ‘freezing’ sea.
The awards, which are given to people from all walks of life and all sections of society who carried out a deed of bravery with "an effort to save human life involving personal risk".
The National Bravery Awards panel said that, were it not for the actions of the pair, “the incident may have resulted in a loss of life”.
Video via oireachtasfilm
Hat tip: Thanks to the Sligo Rose Centre for sending this our way! 
