A CO Armagh student who saved a drowning woman trapped inside a car that had plunged into a river has been honoured.
Andrew Johnston (21) from Lurgan received high praise for his heroic efforts after jumping into a Co Donegal river to rescue Loreta McKinlay.
The Ulster University student said he immediately swam to help the elderly woman and her husband Philip, whose car had left the road and careered into the river at Carrickmore, St Johnston.
He was among 21 people recognised yesterday at the National Bravery Awards in Dublin.
Yesterday's event, organisers said, was an opportunity to celebrate the bravery of people of all ages and from all walks of life and all sections of society.
On July 15 last year, a car had overturned into a small river and an off-duty Garda who could not swim flagged down Mr Johnston's passing car.
Mr Johnston waded in and, with help from the driver, pulled the woman free after four attempts. She had been submerged for at least five minutes and was not breathing but, after others performed CPR, she made a full recovery at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.
In previous interviews, Mr Johnston said: "I don't want to describe myself as a hero. I don't want to think what could have happened. A lot of people helped out on the day and I was just one of them."
