JACK Nallen, son of John and Bernardine of the Hotel Minella in Clonmel, went on a bit of an adventure last week which ended up with the 16-year-old being plucked from a river by a coastguard helicopter and spending a few days in hospital.

A popular figure at point-to-points, Jack has special needs but is a very capable young man, thanks to the encouragement and support of his family and friends.

Last Thursday week, when the weather was at its worst, Jack was heading for the hotel’s leisure centre for a swim after a hard day at school.

On his way in, Jack spotted a broken gate leading down to the riverside and went to investigate the damage.

Lost footing

He apparently lost his footing, fell in, and was quickly swept away in the current. Incredibly Jack did not panic and calmly floated along on his back – possibly for half an hour – until he was spotted by a passer-by, who phoned the emergency services.

Guards, fire officers and ambulance staff were quickly on the scene but needed helicopter assistance to winch Jack to safety.

Fully conscious and reportedly not traumatised by the experience, our hero was taken to hospital as a precaution but he did not suffer hypothermia and was well enough to go back to school last Monday.

Carol Kennedy of Tipperary Fire Service told Tipperary Live: “His parents should be proud of him. A lot of people wouldn’t have survived. He took up the right swimming position; he went a long way to help himself in the situation.”

John, who must have felt he used up all his good luck at Cheltenham and Aintree this year, expressed his gratitude to the emergency services and to local woman Fiona O’Dwyer, who made the 999 call. No doubt there will be a lot of cupcakes heading their way.

Jack was greeted with a round of applause from the congregation when they went to Mass on Sunday. John said: “It could have been a different Mass. I am after seeing eight to nine people in the river over my lifetime and for most of them it went the wrong way.”