No doubt many of you were following yesterday’s story of the brave Maria Foley, who jumped into the River Lee to save a three-year-old boy who fell into the water.
Well, amid praise from locals and social media users alike, the child’s own mother has come out to hail the courageous Maria as her family’s ‘guardian angel’.
According to reports, little Caleb was walking with his au-pair Anna and his little sister, who was in a buggy, when he slipped through the railings near Brian Boru Bridge.
Although Anna called for someone to hold the buggy while she jumped in, Maria – a mother herself – took on the task and jumped into the river after Caleb.
*VIDEO* Woman in cork jumps into river after child falls in, stayed with child until emergency services arrived. pic.twitter.com/xMETyaUPm3
— Cork's 96FM (@Corks96FM) May 20, 2016
In an interview with the Evening Echo, mum Adriana said: “I’m just absolutely amazed by this act of selflessness, that she just saw a child in distress and just jumped in without thinking about herself.”
"It’s amazing to see someone do that. It’s not everyone who would. She’s truly special,” she added.
Both Caleb and Maria were taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment after the incident, but they are both fine.
Adriana and her husband, Alan, have set up a GoFundMe page (link here) to thank Maria.
Well done, once again, to this everyday hero.
