Cyclist falls into Royal Canal from a height at Deep Sinking where greenway progress faces opposition

A person cycling a bicycle had to be rescued by the Dublin Fire Brigade after they fell 7 metres from the narrow, bumpy and rocky Deep Sinking towpath into the Royal Canal.

The Royal Canal Greenway has been mostly upgraded between the midlands and Maynooth, but suffered delays in Co Dublin. The section where the fall happened has faced opposition against a plan to build a greenway mainly on the north bank of the canal.

Dublin Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters, including Hi-Line Specialists and Water Rescue Technicians came to the aid of a cyclist who came off the Royal Canal’s tow path and fell 7 meters in to the water.”

The fire service added: “The patient was rescued, treated, and transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.”

In response, the Dublin 15-based Royal Canal Greenway account Tweeted: “This is terrible news. Great work by the rescue services. Such a shame that @LeoVaradkar and other local reps are continuing to stall the greenway here and push for the route to take the dangerous south bank.”

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has previously been accused of “pandering to NIMBYs” for opposing Fingal County Council’s plans for the Royal Canal Greenway in Dublin 15.

The council has said that the north bank option is perferable because the south back is far more restricted, is complicated by being so close to the railway line and canal which would cause extra cost and delay.

Firefighters, including Hi-Line Specialists and Water Rescue Technicians came to the aid of a cyclist who came off the Royal Canal’s tow path and fell 7 meters in to the water.

The patient was rescued, treated, and transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/Dza6fT4f0D

— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) August 28, 2021