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Buncrana tragedy: Books of condolence open for drowned Londonderry family Buncrana tragedy: Man who saved baby 'seconds from saving' second child
(about 3 hours later)
Books of condolence have opened in Londonderry in memory of five members of a family who died in a drowning tragedy off the Irish coast. A man who rescued a baby from a drowning tragedy in County Donegal said he was seconds from saving another child.
They were killed when their car left a pier in Buncrana in County Donegal, and entered Lough Swilly on Sunday. Five members of one family died after their car went off Buncrana Pier on Sunday night.
The victims were Ruth Daniels, 57, her daughter Jodie Lee Daniels, 14, Sean McGrotty, 49, and his sons Mark, 12, and Evan, eight. The victims were Ruth Daniels, 57, her daughter Jodie Lee Daniels, 14, Sean McGrotty, 49, and his sons Mark, 12, and Evan, eight, all from Londonderry.
A baby girl who was in the car was rescued shortly before it sank. Books of condolence have opened in the city.
'No more tears left'
Davitt Walsh dived into the lough and swam to the family in their car, bringing four-month old Rionaghac-Ann back to safety.
He said he also grabbed the arm of one of the boys.
"I was pulling it and I had the baby in the other hand," he told the BBC.
"The water rushed in and the next thing he [the father] just looked at me and said 'Save the baby' and he went back into his family and the car just went straight down.
"I still had the young fella's hand and I just let go of him. His foot must have got caught on something because I nearly had him out," said Mr Walsh.
"The poor man had a decision because he was halfway out of the car and could have saved himself."
Mr Walsh also told BBC Radio Foyle that he been reunited with baby Rionaghac-Ann at Letterkenny General Hospital.
"I've cried all day, I've no more tears left to be honest," he said.
"The doctors and nurses took us up to see the baby last night and that was the first time I felt good. We saw Rionaghac and it really lifted me and I felt much much better. "
The condolence books opened on Monday night at St Joseph's Church in Galliagh and Holy Family Church in Ballymagroarty.The condolence books opened on Monday night at St Joseph's Church in Galliagh and Holy Family Church in Ballymagroarty.
The funerals of the victims will take place in Derry on Thursday.The funerals of the victims will take place in Derry on Thursday.
On Monday, Jim, a brother of Sean McGrotty said the deaths had "devastated the whole family". On Monday, Jim, a brother of Sean McGrotty, said the deaths had "devastated the whole family".
"We are now totally in shock and dismay," he said."We are now totally in shock and dismay," he said.
"I don't know how we're going to come back from this.""I don't know how we're going to come back from this."
He added that a man, Davitt Walsh, who saved four-month-old Rionaghac-Ann McGrotty was "a hero in this family's eyes". He said that Davitt Walsh was "a hero in this family's eyes".
Mr Walsh jumped into the lough and swam to the family in their car, bringing Rionaghac-Ann back to safety.
He said he felt "terrible" he could not do more for the family after seeing their distress as they tried to escape from the sinking car.