Flight of fancy for young hero who saved family from canal
by Noelle Finegan Updated: Wednesday, 9th March, 2011 4:43pm
AJ McCullagh with his friends Sean McConnell and Killian Roche along with RTE's Brenda Donoghue as they took to the skies in Trim last week.
The beauty of Trim was portrayed to the listeners of the RTE Radio 1 Mooney Show on Wednesday of last week as reporter, Brenda Donoghue, took to the skies from the Porchfields with young Donore man, AJ McCullagh.
The purpose of the flight was to celebrate the heroic actions of AJ, who saved a mother and three children from drowning after their car skidded on ice and plunged into the Boyne Canal near Drogheda.
AJ (21) witnessed the crash and, without fear, single-handedly managed to rescue the family as their car became submerged in the freezing waters at Oldbridge.
After hearing of his heroic actions on RTE in December 2010, Trim-based Irish Balloon flights offered AJ and two of his best friends a balloon flight as a way of saying congratulations.
Pauline Baker from Irish Balloon Flights said: "It was a fantastic day for the flight, a beautiful, frosty clear spring morning and the craic was mighty with Brenda and the three lads. Their wit and humour was infectious and they really enjoyed the experience." A champagne breakfast followed in Trim Castle Hotel.
"I think AJ is now hooked on ballooning, as he has offered to crew for a balloon display taking place soon at the Battle of the Boyne site in Donore, which is on his doorstep," added Pauline.
AJ has also been nominated as a candidate for the national Irish Water Safety Seiko 'Just In Time' award for his bravery.
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