A 20-month old Limerick toddler is alive today, thanks to the quick thinking of two Garda detectives who kept her breathing during a medical emergency in Limerick city centre last Wednesday night.
Detectives Denise Moriarty and Barry Moylan were on routine patrol when they saw Sylwia Pietrasik and David Moya on the junction of Gerard Street and O’Connell Avenue as their their baby Lorena went into convulsions.
They quickly realised that the child was in serious medical distress and intervened immediately.
“That’s when it just kicked in”, Detective Moriarty told the Limerick Post modestly adding that “I didn’t think much really, we just did what was needed.
“Shortly after 8.20pm we were coming from Wolfe Tone Street when we saw Lorena’s parents on the roadside.”
After identifying themselves as Gardaí, they took little Lorena into their patrol car, along with her parents, and opened her airway.
Finding a weak pulse, they kept the airway open as they drove to University Hospital Limerick while maintaining contact with the control room at Henry Street Garda Station. This ensured that Lorena could be handed over to a waiting paediatric team for further intervention and care.
The two detectives said they were “both relieved and thrilled to hear that Lorena had recovered later that night.
“We called out, just out of courtesy, to the hospital the next day and there was Lorena sitting up in the bed of the Children’s Ark playing with her toys and happy out. She was a different child. Her mom was so thankful to us but we were just happy to see all was well,” Detective Moriarty said.
Sylwia told the detectives that she is in debt to them for their quick thinking and fast action which led to saving Lorena’s life.
Chief Superintendent Dave Sheahan told the Limerick Post that the actions of the two detectives was highly commendable.
“They approached this situation not knowing what was wrong with the two parents but, after establishing that their distress was in relation to their seriously ill child, it was cool heads and appropriate action that kicked in,” Chief Supt Sheahan added.
“Det Gda Moriarty and Moylan must be praised for their interventions here and for stepping up the mark in their community.
“This child is alive today because of that. Two garda detectives on patrol in the community and knowing what to do in a time of crisis. I am so proud of them,” Chief Superintendent Sheahan added.
