“The whole experience has been very traumatic for all involved. It was a case of sliding doors, right place, right time.”
A paediatric nurse has been recognised for her outstanding bravery after helping to save the lives of a family of five young children last summer.
The extraordinary sea rescue took place on the July 13 2025 at Rossglass beach in Co Down. Although the tide was initially out, it began to turn as the children, who are all siblings, went for a swim.
The Newcastle Coastguard team was called to the beach near Downpatrick at around 9.30pm after reports that the five children – Catherine, Cecilia, Mary, Maria and their brother Francis Smyth from Ballynoe – had been caught out by the rising tide.
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After two initial responders from the Coastguard team arrived at the beach, they found the children had been brought ashore by two off-duty nurses who spotted that the children were in danger and went into the sea to bring them to safety.
Veronica Sloan, together with friend and fellow Belfast sea swimmer Sinéad Deane, acted immediately. Wading into the water, they first reached Francis, Maria, and Cecilia, sending them safely back to their mother.
Veronica, carrying her phone in a waterproof bag, called 999 from knee-deep in the sea, triggering a rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Sinéad swam out to Mary and Catherine, who were treading water, and got the children back to shore with Veronica. Both ladies helped keep them safe and provided essential care until Coastguard and emergency service teams arrived.
Both Veronica and Sinéad were recently awarded Honorary Testimonials from the Royal Humane Society for their courageous actions and also received Certificates of Recognition from the Coastguard and the Royal Lifesaving Society.
A special letter from the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, was also gifted to the pair.
Veronica, Ards Hospital’s Community Children’s Deputy Sister said she and Sinéad’s experience was very much a case of “right place, right time.”
Veronica said: “The whole experience has been very traumatic for all involved. It was a case of sliding doors, right place, right time. Myself and Sinéad’s nursing skills played a big part that night in keeping the children safe until help arrived.
“I feel very proud to have been presented an extremely special certificate by my mother Mary, herself a nurse of 48 years. I feel very overwhelmed and honoured to have been presented with these acknowledgements especially from the Chief of the Coastguard of Scotland and Northern Ireland and the President of Ireland.”
South Eastern Trust Executive Director of Nursing David Robinson said: “I’m so proud of Veronica. There is no doubt that her courage and quick thinking – and that of her friend Sinéad too – helped save the lives of five children. They both deserve to be honoured for their incredible bravery last year.”
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