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River victim 'caring young man' River victim 'caring young man'
(about 4 hours later)
Tributes have been paid to the 14-year-old boy from County Donegal who drowned in the River Foyle on Monday.Tributes have been paid to the 14-year-old boy from County Donegal who drowned in the River Foyle on Monday.
Brian McDaid was walking with friends on a sand bed near St Johnston when he lost his footing and was carried out into the water.Brian McDaid was walking with friends on a sand bed near St Johnston when he lost his footing and was carried out into the water.
A major air and sea operation was launched to try and find him, and his body was recovered late on Monday.A major air and sea operation was launched to try and find him, and his body was recovered late on Monday.
Parish priest Father Dan Carr said Brian's family were "numb" after the "terribly tragedy".
"They are totally devastated and are finding it extremely difficult to understand what has happened."
Fr Carr said the incident had been "hugely traumatic" for Brian's two friends, who were with him when the accident happened.
It's amazing to see so many mothers clutching onto their own children in a great fear Father Dan Carr
"This was a terrible tragedy of innocent children playing and totally unsuspecting of the turning tide.
"The tide turned, and they weren't aware of the speed of it, and the sand and the mud they were standing on became so soft and it just couldn't carry their weight, and the rest is a just a tragic history," he said.
"Brian was very unfortunate in that he went into what local fishermen refer to here as a blind hole, one of those unsuspecting places where you just drop.
"He couldn't free his feet from the mud and just unfortunately was pinned down and the tide came over him."
Everyone in the local community had been badly affected, said the priest.
"All you'll find are groups of people standing there looking for comfort and support but very very little said.
"It's amazing to see so many mothers clutching onto their own children in a great fear, an irrational fear that we'd better watch you in case you might be taken away as well," he said.
A sore loss
PJ McGowan, the principal of Deele College in Raphoe, where Brian was a pupil, said he will be badly missed.PJ McGowan, the principal of Deele College in Raphoe, where Brian was a pupil, said he will be badly missed.
"He was a very very caring young man, a popular young man, and a good student at the school."He was a very very caring young man, a popular young man, and a good student at the school.
"It'll be a sore loss to the school," he said."It'll be a sore loss to the school," he said.
Mary Crossan, a friend of Brian's mother, Geraldine, said she comforted her on Monday night.Mary Crossan, a friend of Brian's mother, Geraldine, said she comforted her on Monday night.
"I think its something that's very, very hard to come to terms with, and I think it's going to take a while for her to come to terms with it and accept what has happened."I think its something that's very, very hard to come to terms with, and I think it's going to take a while for her to come to terms with it and accept what has happened.
"It is just unbelievable that anybody has to endure this. There was just a great sense of helplessness," she said."It is just unbelievable that anybody has to endure this. There was just a great sense of helplessness," she said.
Mary Crossan said the community's response was a great comfort.
"People came from within our own community, everybody with the one goal to try and find Brian, and everyone just made towards the river to show their support, to pray and watch and keep a vigil," she said.