“That you did so with no thought for your own safety marks you out as one of life’s true heroes.”
A 17-year-old boy who saved a mother and daughter from drowning last month has been praised by President Micheal D Higgins for his heroic efforts.
Miley Doran, who Higgins hailed as an “received an invite from President Higgins to visit Áras an Uachtaráin once it is safe to do so.
Doran rescued both Stacey Foley and her 13-year-old daughter Sophie Foley-Smith at the banks of the River Barrow in Carlow on 30 May.
“That you did so with no thought for your own safety marks you out as one of life’s true heroes, and a citizen of whom we can be very proud indeed,” President Higgins wrote in a letter to the teenager.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner after the incident on 30 May, Doran said he was down by the river when a child ran over to him screaming that their mother was drowning. Doran instantly sprung into action and managed to rescue both Stacey and Sophie from danger.
Ann Langton, Stacey’s mother, called for Doran to be honoured at the time with a National Bravery Award for his brave actions.
Langton added that he didn’t consider his own safety before jumping in to help the mother and daughter.
“He is our hero. I could have been planning funerals today,” she said.
“He should be an inspiration to all the young people in Carlow.”
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