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Woman miraculously survives 40ft drop after being swept by wave on Irish island of Aran - video

The Indian student Apu Gupta escaped with only a fractured ankle and cuts and bruises

Jack Simpson
Thursday 16 April 2015 17:15 BST
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Apu Gupta was swept away by the massive wave
Apu Gupta was swept away by the massive wave

An Indian student was lucky to escape with her life after she was filmed being swept away by a massive wave during stormy weather on the Aran islands last week.

Apu Gupta from Calcutta, was visiting the islands just off the Irish west coast last week when she was knocked off of her feet by the powerful wave.

The incident, which was captured by on the mobile phones of shocked onlookers, shows the student falling nearly 40ft onto rocks below.

According to Gupta, the water had “cushioned her fall” and she was able to hold onto a nearby rock for safety. Bystanders quickly rushed to help Gupta and made a rope out of a rucksack and an army jacket so that they could pull her to safety.

Seamus McCarthy, an advanced paramedic was watching when Gupta was swept away and quickly rushed to save the student.

He was able to treat her for her injuries until an ambulance arrived.

He said: “She was very, very shaken and had a badly fractured ankle, but considering where she fell it was amazing that was all.”

Despite the dramatic fall, Gupta escaped with only a fractured ankle and a few cuts and bruises.

A spokesperson for Irish Water Safety said: “The video shows just how quickly our powerful aquatic environments can change especially in coastal areas subject to Atlantic swells. It is terribly important to stay away from the edge and to make sure that children receive constant uninterrupted supervision near water.”

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