Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Saturday 17°CSunday 17°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Healthhomepage-newsNewsPolicingPSNI

EXCLUSIVE: RIVER HERO TELLS HOW HE SAVED DROWNING WOMAN FROM HER CAR

written by John July 17, 2017
ShareTweet
THIS is the hero student has told how it took him four attempts to save the life of a drowning woman who became trapped in her car after it plunged into a river.

Brave Andrew Johnston was visiting Co Donegal for the weekend when the dramatic events unfolded.

Having sold his tickets to the Longitude Music Festival, Andrew, 21, surprised girlfriend Rhiannon Donaldson with a weekend in the seaside resort of Buncrana.

But while driving to the town on the Inishowen Peninsula, the young couple’s lives would change forever.

After passing through Porthall just outside Lifford, Andrew noticed a commotion on the road ahead at the Suile Bridge.

He said he initially thought it was a car crash but never thought he would end up saving the lives of two people just moments later.

It was only later he would discover how a car with an elderly couple had plunged into the Suile Burn, which flows into the River Foyle, just before 6.30pm on Saturday evening.

The Nissan Qashqai being taken from the river near Lifford where a couple were rescued by passersby when their car went into the river.

He revealed: “I thought it was a crash but then I noticed this guy coming running towards me. He asked me if I could swim and brought me to the edge of the river.

“What I saw unfolding before me was the scariest thing I have seen in my life.

“I saw the wreckage of a car and a man, whose face was covered in blood, was standing on the top of an upturned car.

“I’m not a gold medal swimmer but I got out to him and asked him if there was anybody else in the car.

“He told me his wife was in the car. To be honest, it wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear but I knew I had to do something.”

For the next two minutes, the second year engineering student at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown, tried on FOUR different occasions to reach Mrs Loreta McKinlay.

On the first occasion, he simply didn’t take enough breath and had to return to the surface.

On the second Andrewm from Lurgan in Co Armagh, reached into the front passenger seat of the car but there was nobody there.

He resurfaced and asked Mr McKinlay where exactly his wife was in the car.

The terrified husband pointed to the rear passenger side where he had last seen his wife before the couple hit the water.

Andrew, assisted by Mr McKinlay, then jumped back into the water and managed to pull open the rear passenger door.

They initially had to discard various pieces of clothing and bags in the back of the car before hauling Mrs McKinlay onto the top of the car.

Andrew added “She was unconscious. Her lips were blue and I’d never seen anything like it in my life. It was so scary. I was surprised there was any breathing at all.”

Mr McKinlay then attempted to perform CPR on his wife.

Others from the riverbank had managed to get a garden hose from a passing motorist and threw it to the rescuers to use as a makeshift life-ring.

They managed to bring Mrs McKinlay to the riverbank but couldn’t get her to dry land as the banking was too steep.

A number of passers-by then managed to lift the stricken woman up onto the edge of the river.

The emergency services were contacted but Andrew said it was at least 20 minutes before an ambulance manager to get to the scene.

However, Andrew revealed that a paramedic did speak to those at Mrs McKinlay’s side as they changed her recovery position and stayed with her as she battled to live.

“It was the longest 20 minutes of my life. I know Donegal is a large place and I’m not having a go at the ambulance service but I thought they were never going to arrive.

“I did genuinely fear the worse for the poor woman but the paramedics were doing their best to help us on the phone before the ambulance arrived,” he said.

When the rescue services including fire tenders, Gardai and medical personnel as well as the Rescue 118 helicopter did arrive, Andrew went to change his clothing.

“I was absolutely soaking from the river and I went to change my clothes. When I came back they had put up a cordon and I could not get past it again.

“At that stage I thought I had done all I could and I drove on with my girlfriend,” he said.

Andrew went to stay at the Harbour Inn in Buncrana on Saturday night but kept an eye on social media to find out any news on Mr and Mrs McKinlay.

It was only yesterday that he realised that reports of the potentially tragic event were describing him as the mystery hero.

“I don’t want to describe myself as a hero. I just wanted to find out how the couple were. I’m hoping they will be okay.

“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,” he said.

In a lovely gesture to the reluctant hero, management at the Harbour Inn in Buncrana heard about Andrew’s amazing bravery and gave himself and his girlfriend a free two-night stay to use in future.

“I should have been at Longitude but sold my tickets and decided to come to Donegal. I even got off my part-time job a little early so I shouldn’t really have been passing by that river.

“Life works in mysterious ways,” added Andrew.

Well done Andrew.

Mrs McKinlay remains in a serious condition in Altnagelvin hospital.

EXCLUSIVE: RIVER HERO TELLS HOW HE SAVED DROWNING WOMAN FROM HER CAR was last modified: July 17th, 2017 by John

Tags:
ANDREW JOHNSTONEXCLUSIVE: RIVER HERO TELLS HOW HE SAVED DROWNING WOMAN FROM HER CARliffordLONGITUDE MUSIC FESTIVALPORTALLRHIANNON DONALDSON
ShareTweet
John

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

45 mins ago

Funeral of mother and daughter killed in...

5 hours ago

Man arrested over Class C drugs seizure...

5 hours ago

Boyce hat-trick sends Derry City into seventh...

9 hours ago

Dance company loses appeal over 100% annual...

11 hours ago

Unmissable music events coming to the Abbey...

1 day ago

New leaflet to help older people beat...

1 day ago

Man charged with possessing indecent images of...

1 day ago

Loving mother and daughter killed in Donegal...

1 day ago

Positive discussions with Transport Minister on NW...

1 day ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

    July 5, 2025
  • Derry priest faces seven more child sex charges

    July 4, 2025
  • Man charged with possessing indecent images of children

    July 4, 2025
  • Two men in court after £1.2m cannabis find near border

    July 3, 2025
  • Two charged over huge cannabis haul seized in North West

    July 3, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy