A heroic garda from Fethard-on-sea who had been run over by a speeding motorist, got up from the ground and chased after the culprit, arresting him moments later. Garda David Hearne (42), who is stationed in County Waterford, was hailed a hero this summer after his seventh rescue of a drowning person in Waterford in the past decade.

Garda Hearne was on duty as a plain clothes garda in the Lismore Park area of the city on Thursday dealing with a motorist on the roadside when he noticed a car coming towards him which was driven by a man he wanted to speak to in relation to a number of offences.

Garda Hearne said: ‘I stood out in the middle of the road to stop him and the driver put down the accelerator and drove through me.’ Garda Hearne said the vehicle was travelling at around 40 kph when it collided with him. ‘The car struck me in the knees and threw me up onto the bonnet of the car. I somersaulted onto the road on my back. Luckily the adrenalin kicked in and I managed to get up and into my car and I caught him.’

The man in his 20s was arrested and a file is being sent to the director of Public Prosecutions. Garda Hearne attended University hospital Waterford with knee, back and head injuries and was treated prior to being released that evening. ‘I am battered up at the moment so I’m on leave but I’m hoping to get back to work in the next couple weeks.’

Garda Hearne was involved in two daring rescues this summer in Waterford and Dungarvan. A member of hook sub aqua Club, he is a trained garda underwater diver. He said: ‘It’s been an unbelievable summer; one event after the other.’

He has been involved in up to seven rescues since the mid noughties and saved two men from drowning at two city centre locations in Waterford on the same day in april 2007 for which he was awarded a medal for Marine gallantry at the Marine Meritorious awards.

Garda Hearne is the son of Gemma and Declan Hearne. He has been stationed in Waterford for over a decade having worked with the garda Underwater Unit in santry prior to that.