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Limerick woman Sarah Hartigan - Sarah, who is Munster Women’s Senior Rugby Team manager previously had first-aid training from working in the UL Sports Arena for a few years which consisted of lifeguarding Limerick woman Sarah Hartigan - Sarah, who is Munster Women’s Senior Rugby Team manager previously had first-aid training from working in the UL Sports Arena for a few years which consisted of lifeguarding

Inspirational

Limerick woman Sarah Hartigan saves the day in New Zealand

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Limerick woman Sarah Hartigan – Sarah, who is Munster Women’s Senior Rugby Team manager previously had first-aid training from working in the UL Sports Arena for a few years which consisted of lifeguarding.

Sarah reacted swiftly and offered a life-saving intervention to Waikato rugby union official Dean Herewini

By I Love Limerick correspondent Ava O’Donoghue

Limerick woman Sarah Hartigan
Jonathan Sexton celebrating his side’s victory in the Steinlager Series match against New Zealand at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin a week after Sarah Hartigan saved the life of New Zealander Dean Herewini. It is Ireland’s first win over the All-Blacks in New Zealand. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Limerick woman Sarah Hartigan has been crowned a good luck charm after saving a man’s life the weekend before Ireland claimed their first victory over the All-Blacks in New Zealand.


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The woman, Sarah Hartigan was working as a tour manager with Rugby Travel Ireland and was attending a pre-match event ahead of Ireland vs All-Blacks test match in Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin where they scored an impressive 23 – 12 when she heard a commotion out the back.

After seeing a man slumped over in his car, Sarah reacted swiftly and offered a life-saving intervention to Waikato rugby union official Dean Herewini who was suffering from a heart attack while parking his car.

While unable to move the man out of her car, Sarah did the best she could, climbing into the back seat of the car and giving compressions and ultimately saving the 56-year-old man’s life. Doctors estimated that Dean’s heart stopped for an entire minute during the ordeal and if it weren’t for Sarah then it would have been fatal.

Sarah, who is Munster Women’s Senior Rugby Team manager previously had first-aid training from working in the UL Sports Arena for a few years which consisted of lifeguarding, but she says it’s impossible to know how one will react in these situations until it happens.

After going to the hospital, Sarah was happy to hear from Dean’s family that he is doing well and that they are incredibly thankful for her quick thinking.

A week later and Ireland scored an incredible victory over the All-Blacks which Sarah joked was due to gaining the support of Dean’s family, who were all New Zealanders.

Sarah believes that if there is anything to come out of this miracle it’s the importance of learning the basics that can save a life. She encourages people to get out and learn CPR as it could save a life.

For more information on Ireland vs the All-blacks, go HERE

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.