A CORONER has called for a posthumous bravery award to honour the man who tried to rescue a teenager in a quarry drowning tragedy outside Newcastle.
Colin Polland (39) was near Paul’s Quarry on the afternoon of June 1 when he heard cries for help from Kevin O’Hare’s friends. Shortly after jumping in a bid to save the 15 year-old, both men died.
Kevin, from Dromara, had gone for a swim to the quarry with his cousin Philip McGrillen and brother Liam on what had been a hot sunny day.
At Belfast Coroner’s Court yesterday, Senior Coroner John Leckey ruled that Kevin and Mr. Polland, who was born in Newcastle but lived in London, died of drowning. He said the very cold water probably had an impact on their deaths.
Calling on local councils and the Department of Environment to prevent any
further quarry deaths, Mr. Leckey also asked the PSNI to investigate how Mr.
Polland’s actions could be recognised.
“Colin Polland lost his life heroically trying to save the life of Kevin O’Hare,” he said, addressing Sergeant Kelly Warnock representing the PSNI. “His actions were extremely brave. Is is possible for recognition to be made, that his bravery be recognised posthumously in some way? Can I assume this something the police would support?”
Sergeant Warnock replied: “Absolutely.”
Passing on his condolences to both families, Mr. Leckey also commended Mr. Polland’s bravery to his widow Adele.
“It is absolutely dreadful he lost his life trying to save the life of someone else,” he said.
Mr. Leckey also told Mrs. Polland, who had to abandon her own rescue attempt of her husband, that she had made the right decision.
“If you had not got out of the water when you did this would certainly have been an inquest into a triple drowning,” he said.