Limerick postman heralded for his heroic life-saving action

LIMERICK postman Pat McNamara is to receive a Heroic Citizen Award from An Post.

The local postal operative was on his usual delivery in the Raheen area last month, when he came to the rescue of an elderly homeowner, suffering a medical emergency.

Now, the working leaders in the Limerick Delivery Service Unit (DSU) have nominated Pat for the top honour.

“We received the contact from the woman’s son-in-law, who could not have been more thankful for Pat's intervention, stressing that without it, she would not have survived,” explained Damien Fox, working leader in Limerick DSU.

“While on his delivery in Raheen, Pat called to a house with post and while passing the window he could clearly see that elderly homeowner was struggling to breathe. He came to her assistance and sat her in a comfortable position on the chair and got her a glass of water. He could clearly see the situation was more serious than he thought and dialled 999 without alarming her,” recalled Mr Fox of his colleague’s heroic action.

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“The emergency operator asked Pat to stay on the phone until the ambulance arrived in case the situation worsened. Pat stayed with her until the medical assistance arrived and then continued on his duty. The emergency services told Pat that there would have been a very different outcome if he had not been there.

“In a phone call to the office the following Friday her son-in-law explained that only for Pat’s intervention and quick thinking she would not have made it and he was very thankful for all that Pat had done.”