National Bravery Award presented to Tulsk teenager
Callum Clarke with his grandfather Sean Stroker at Killina Lake back in 2021. Pic. Gerard O'Loughlin
A County Roscommon teenager was presented with a National Bravery Award at a ceremony in Dublin on Friday.
A total of 26 people who risked their own lives to help others were presented with awards at Farmleigh House in Dublin by Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl.
Callum Clarke, 13, from Tulsk received a silver medal and a certificate.
Callum was hailed as a hero after dramatically saving the life of his grandfather following a near fatal incident on Killina Lake, Killynagh Beg, near Tulsk back in September of 2021 when he was just 11.
Callum, son of Kevin and Jackie Clarke of Kilcooley, Tulsk, managed to pull his grandfather from the water and bring him to the shoreline to safety.
The prompt and brave actions of the then 11 year-old who was a sixth class pupil at Tulsk National School at the time, saved his grandfather Sean Stroker after a freak gust of wind tipped Sean into the water and the boat began to capsize. Sean went straight down in the lake, even though both Sean and Callum had life jackets on them. Sean couldn’t breath and was taking in water. With the coldness of the water and Sean struggling for breath, he thought he was drowning and about to suffer a heart attack. Callum kept calm throughout. Luckily, he saw part of the board which was on top of the seat of the boat which had broken when Sean entered the water. He managed to get the board and put it behind Sean’s arms for him to hold onto and bring him to the shore. Luckily Callum had his phone in Sean’s jeep and managed to ring NowDoc. An ambulance and a paramedic subsequently arrived at the scene.
After being brought out of the water, Sean was attended to by a paramedic and was taken by ambulance to Mullingar General Hospital. He was detained for a short time before being released from hospital.
Callum has received a number of accolades for his bravery including a Garda Youth Award.
