Joe Sheehan, a UNL student studying abroad, made the news in Ireland and the United States after he successfully saved a man from drowning in Dublin – only to have his wallet and phone stolen while he was in the water.

Sheehan, a mechanical engineering junior from Blair, is studying Shakespeare and theater this summer at Kingston University in London. He took a side trip to Dublin last weekend to visit the home city of his great-grandmother, who emigrated from Ireland. He returns to the U.S. Aug. 3

Shortly after arriving in the city, Sheehan noticed a man struggling in the River Liffey near the O’Connell Bridge. A trained lifeguard, Sheehan tried to use his jacket as a life rope to pull him out of the water. When that didn’t work, he shucked out of his pants and shirt and jumped in to successfully rescue the man.

Afterwards, he realized someone had lifted his wallet and phone.

Bystanders aided Sheehan in contacting his parents, who wired him money. He also received help from the Irish Tourist Assistance Service and fellow members of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He said he will donate the $500 the fraternity raised in a crowd-sourcing effort to ALS in the Heartland.

Coverage highlights included:

Omaha World-Herald: Husker won’t forget this trip to Dublin http://go.unl.edu/v7fh

Belfast Telegraph: Hero American tourist robbed while rescuing drowning man in Dublin’s River Liffey http://go.unl.edu/o3mb

Irish Mirror: Hero tourist robbed as he bravely saved drowning man from River Liffey http://go.unl.edu/dnum

Evening Herald: Cead mile failte, now hand over your phone and wallet please http://go.unl.edu/2n9m

Evening Herald: Charity helps hero tourist who saved man in Liffey http://go.unl.edu/9xee

Irish Independent: Heroic tourist robbed while rescuing drowning man from river http://go.unl.edu/smne

Irish Independent: Hero tourist Joe treated to night out after Liffey rescue http://go.unl.edu/kunu