Owen Cunningham being presented with his award by the HSE National Ambulance Service outside of his National School, Scoil Chartha Naofa, Kilcar, Donegal

The HSE’s National Ambulance Service last week recognised the bravery of ten-year-old Owen Cunningham, from Donegal, who raised the alarm when his father fell off a cliff in November 2021.

From Kilcar, county Donegal, ten-year-old Owen raised the alarm after his father Seamus sustained injuries when he fell off a cliff on 16th November 2021, while working on farm fencing. Realising the danger his father was in and not having a mobile phone with him, Owen ran home and raised the alarm before cycling back to his injured father and waited for help to arrive.

His father, Seamus, was treated for his injuries by NAS staff including a Paramedic and Advanced Paramedic from Killybegs Ambulance Station.  He was subsequently airlifted from the scene by the Coast Guard R118 helicopter.

Certificate of bravery

Those who attended the incident were impressed with Owen’s calm and brave response and wanted to acknowledge this with a certificate of bravery, which was presented to him at Kilcar National School earlier today.

The event was attended by NAS Staff, including the Advanced Paramedic and Paramedics who attended the call, Coast Guard volunteers who assisted in the rescue, along with the Coastguard R118 crew who also attended the incident.

Congratulating Owen, Robert Morton, Director of the HSE’s National Ambulance Service (NAS) said:

“On the morning of November 16th last, we received an emergency call in the Donegal area. A man had sustained a serious fall. National Ambulance Service paramedics attended and provided care on scene. We were supported by the Coast Guard Helicopter and the man was subsequently transferred to hospital. The alarm was originally raised by a child who was there when the incident occurred and local crews were incredibly impressed by his calm approach throughout the incident.”

“All of us at the HSE’s National Ambulance Service are delighted to present Owen with his bravery certificate today. And who knows, he may be a paramedic when he grows up.”

Praising his son’s bravery, Owen’s father, Seamus, added:

“I’m very proud of Owen - the outcome could have been much worse. He is a very brave boy. It took a lot of guts for him to do what he did. He stayed with me the whole time.”