Finaghy woman honoured after saving Oz toddler

Maeve McLoughlin, 26, a personal trainer, was honoured at a ceremony in Dublin for bravely battling a raging creek in the Aussie outback to save two-year-old Bridie Woolcock’s life.

Last week Ambassador Bruce Davis, on behalf of the Governor General of Australia, presented Maeve with a Commendation for Brave Conduct, at a ceremony at his residence in Killiney.

The local woman, whose family live in Carryduff, runs Precore Fitness in Belfast, but in September 2010 had been working as a nanny at Richard and Jenny Woolcock’s 30,000-acre cattle station in Springsure, Queensland, when little Bridie, now four, nearly died.

Heavy rainfall had caused the creek by the Woolcock’s home to swell to five feet of fast-flowing floodwater.

Bridie fell in and was swept along by the current for over half a mile.

Maeve explained that adrenalin kicked in and she ran barefoot along the side of the creek, climbing through barbed wire fences to get to Bridie. She plunged into the waters, grabbed the little girl and performed mouth to mouth resuscitation on the youngster. Maeve then carried Bridie, unconscious but breathing, to safety before she was airlifted to hospital.

“I thought she was dead but I just kept going until I revived her.

“There was no one about to hear my cries for help so I ran back the with the child where she was later airlifted to hospital to be treated for a collapsed lung and infection after being in the water.

“I am just glad I was able to get to Bridie in time and she is doing well,” said Maeve.

“The award ceremony in Dublin was amazing. I feel so honoured and it was great having my boyfriend and family there with me.”

Maeve said that the Woolcock’s would have loved to have been at the ceremony but as they couldn’t make they sent a heartfelt message which said: “Congratulations to our dearest Maeve on being presented this award for your bravery. Without your courageous efforts we would not have our little Bridie here today. You will always have our sincerest love and blessings.”