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Buncrana Pier: witness describes 'heroic' young man who stripped to underwear to save baby from sinking car Buncrana Pier: 'Heroic' man stripped to underwear to save baby from sinking car, witness says
(about 3 hours later)
An eyewitness has described the remarkable moment a "heroic" young man leapt into the sea and saved the life of a two-month-baby trapped in a car moments before it sunk, killing five other people.An eyewitness has described the remarkable moment a "heroic" young man leapt into the sea and saved the life of a two-month-baby trapped in a car moments before it sunk, killing five other people.
Two adults and three children thought to be from same family died when their car slipped off a pier in County Donegal on Sunday night.Two adults and three children thought to be from same family died when their car slipped off a pier in County Donegal on Sunday night.
A passerby described how a young man stripped to his underwear while the car was still afloat and swam out to the family, managing to save their baby daughter, who is thought to be two months old. A passerby described how a young man stripped to his underwear while the car was still afloat and swam out to the family, managing to save their baby daughter, who is thought to be two months old. 
It is believed the family passed the baby out to the rescuer through the window before their car sank near Buncrana Pier.It is believed the family passed the baby out to the rescuer through the window before their car sank near Buncrana Pier.
Francis Crawford, a passer-by who called the coast guard and watched the "harrowing" incident unfold, told the BBC: "A fellow came along [...] and I said 'can you swim?' and he says 'I can' and I says 'please please please' and he stripped off to his underwear and he headed out," said Mr Crawford.Francis Crawford, a passer-by who called the coast guard and watched the "harrowing" incident unfold, told the BBC: "A fellow came along [...] and I said 'can you swim?' and he says 'I can' and I says 'please please please' and he stripped off to his underwear and he headed out," said Mr Crawford.
"And it was good that he did. He came back with the wee baby. But whether he got it or how he got it - they're saying they just handed it out to him - and when he came back he was totally exhausted [...] I can't see how he made it."And it was good that he did. He came back with the wee baby. But whether he got it or how he got it - they're saying they just handed it out to him - and when he came back he was totally exhausted [...] I can't see how he made it.
"He was shouting grab the baby, grab the baby and he was taken to hospital [...] but very heroic and it saved the baby.""He was shouting grab the baby, grab the baby and he was taken to hospital [...] but very heroic and it saved the baby."
Mr Crawford said he was desperately hoping the car would stay afloat until the emergency services arrived.Mr Crawford said he was desperately hoping the car would stay afloat until the emergency services arrived.
"And all the time the car was bobbling about, and all the time I was hoping against hope because I knew the services were all on their way, and I was hoping against hope that the car would stay up until the people came," he said."And all the time the car was bobbling about, and all the time I was hoping against hope because I knew the services were all on their way, and I was hoping against hope that the car would stay up until the people came," he said.
"And I was watching the car and then it started to dip, and then all of a sudden the whole car just went down [...] everything stopped."And I was watching the car and then it started to dip, and then all of a sudden the whole car just went down [...] everything stopped.
"It was harrowing and heart-rending.""It was harrowing and heart-rending."
The baby was rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital by ambulance crews and is in a stable condition.The baby was rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital by ambulance crews and is in a stable condition.
Emergency services said they had recovered the bodies of a two boys, a man and a woman. The age of a second female fatality has not been confirmed.Emergency services said they had recovered the bodies of a two boys, a man and a woman. The age of a second female fatality has not been confirmed.
Her family were reportedly from nearby Derry in Northern Ireland and were visiting the area.Her family were reportedly from nearby Derry in Northern Ireland and were visiting the area.
Locals have said there have been a number of incidents where cars get into difficulty near the pier in recent months at the slipway usually used by ferries.Locals have said there have been a number of incidents where cars get into difficulty near the pier in recent months at the slipway usually used by ferries.
Jack Murray, local Sinn Fein councillor in Inishowen, said the accident had brought back memories of past tragedies.Jack Murray, local Sinn Fein councillor in Inishowen, said the accident had brought back memories of past tragedies.
"I don't know what to say about it, it's just awful," he said."I don't know what to say about it, it's just awful," he said.
Mr Murray was among a large group of local people who came to the pier when news of the incident broke.Mr Murray was among a large group of local people who came to the pier when news of the incident broke.
"People who had gathered there were just devastated, it was just complete silence from everybody who was standing there," he said."People who had gathered there were just devastated, it was just complete silence from everybody who was standing there," he said.