The Department of Health is to be lobbied for a dedicated water rescue team for the south Armagh area after a young person almost lost their life at Camlough Lake.
He had been struggling in the water for the best part of an hour before being rescued during the early hours of Wednesday morning last week.
Emergency services had to force access to kayaks stored at the lake in order to save the distressed individual.
Related: Young man rescued from middle of Camlough Lake in early hours
Friends – who had summoned the emergency services with a 999 call – were praised for undoubtedly saving his life through their actions.
But the incident raised stark questions, given that the closest water rescue service crews are Belfast-based.
This, according to Sinn Féin Councillor Oonagh Magennis, needs to be addressed, especially with plans for leisure development recently reported for Camlough Lake and the increased numbers such an attraction would draw.
She has, therefore, called for a dedicated water rescue team to provide coverage across the south Armagh area.
The Slieve Gullion councillor said: “There is a need for a dedicated water rescue team to cover the South Armagh area, as evidenced by recent events.
“With Camlough Lake growing in popularity along with the upcoming recreation hub at the lake, there will be more people than ever before using the lake in the time ahead.
“This means that we cannot rely on a water rescue team coming from Belfast to respond to emergencies, we need to have that capacity locally.
“My party colleague, Councillor Declan Murphy raised this issue at the recent PCSP meeting with the local head of the PSNI.
“We will write to the Department of Health to ask that the local fire service teams be given the training, equipment and resources needed to provide proper water safety and rescue cover, not only for Camlough Lake but for the whole south Armagh area.”
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