A teenage boy is in critical condition in hospital after getting into difficulty while swimming in Co Monaghan.
The 16-year-old, who is from Co Tyrone, had been at Emy Lake with his friends when the alarm was raised at around 5pm yesterday.
He had been in the lake when he was spotted by local swimmers Dzintra McConnon and Johnny McConnell, who took him from the water and performed CPR until an ambulance arrived.
He was then taken to a local GAA pitch before being airlifted to the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
Ms Connon said she had been in the area for a swim when she saw the boy going under the water.
"I said to my friend let's swim there and started shouting 'help, help’." she said.
"We got him eventually and lifted him out and started CPR until the ambulance arrived."
She said she is now thinking of the boy and his family as he is in hospital.
Local Fine Gael councillor for Monaghan Pauric Clerkin said there is a "sense of devastation" in the community as people are keeping the boy in their thoughts.
"We’re sending our prayers and hope to the family and friends of that young boy, and hoping that he pulls through."
The incident happened one day after a 15-year-old died off Dublin's Burrow Beach after getting into difficulty while swimming.
