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Buncrana tragedy: Man who saved baby 'seconds from saving' second child | Buncrana tragedy: Man who saved baby 'seconds from saving' second child |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man who rescued a baby from a drowning tragedy in County Donegal said he was seconds from saving another child. | A man who rescued a baby from a drowning tragedy in County Donegal said he was seconds from saving another child. |
Five members of one family died after their car went off Buncrana Pier on Sunday night. | 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, all from Londonderry. | 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. |
Books of condolence have opened in the city. | Books of condolence have opened in the city. |
'No more tears left' | '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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | "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. | "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." | "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 had been reunited with baby Rionaghac-Ann at Letterkenny General Hospital. | Mr Walsh also told BBC Radio Foyle that he had 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. | "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 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. |
Some of Evan McGrotty's classmates were among those who attended mass on Tuesday morning at Holy Family. | |
Parish Priest Father Noel Brown led the prayers for the family. He said it is an unimaginable loss. | |
"Some of the children this morning were actually crying when they were trying to think about what actually happened. | |
"I could see three or four of them, the tears coming into their eyes," he said. | |
"I suppose they don't fully understand how that could happen one of their classmates or one of their pupils from the school could be just taken away like that." | |
The funerals of the victims will take place in the same church in Derry on Thursday. | |
In the Irish parliament (Dáil) on Tuesday, the acting prime minister (taoiseach) Enda Kenny led a minute's silence for the family. | |
Mr Kenny said the tragic loss would leave a devastating impact on the extended family. | |
"In these circumstances, however, this is a particular and deepest grief, that the tranquillity and beauty of a sunny spring Sunday was shattered by this tragedy." | |
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 said that Davitt Walsh was "a hero in this family's eyes". | He said that Davitt Walsh was "a hero in this family's eyes". |