Jodie Lee Daniels and her mum Ruth perished in Buncrana drowning tragtedy
CREW member and communications officer with Lough Swilly RNLI Joe Joyce has described the actions of the man who entered the water to save the life of a baby girl as “heroic”.
The heroic man has been identified as David Walsh from Kerrykeel in Donegal.
Those who died were Sean McGrotty, his two young sons Mark and Evan, Mr McGrotty’s mother-in-law Ruth Daniels and her teenage daughter Jodie Lee.
It is understood that Mr McGrotty’s partner and the dead boys’ mother, Louise, was away on a hen party in England for the weekend.
She has also lost her mother and sister in the devastating tragedy.
Her four-month-old daughter Rioghnach survived after she was rescued from the water by a man who jumped in.
Speaking at the scene, Mr Joyce said Mr Walsh’s “quick actions saved that child’s life”.
Mr Walsh stripped to his underwear and went in to try and save those in the Audi Q7 4 X 4 jeep.
“When we arrived at the scene, there had been a person on the pier who stripped down and entered the water and took hold of the infant.”
Brothers Mark and Evan McGrotty who drowned in Buncrana last night
“His quick actions definitely saved that child’s life.”
Supt Colm Nevin said it was one of the biggest incidents they have dealt with in North Donegal for a long, long time.
Speaking at the scene in Buncrana pier, Supt Nevin said they received a call at Buncrana garda station at 7pm yesterday evening telling them that a vehicle had entered the water.
“The emergency services attended very quickly to the scene. We were also told there were a number of occupants in the vehicle at the time.
“A bystander who was standing by rescued a four-month old baby from the vehicle and that baby is now in Letterkenny hospital doing very well.
“The vehicle has been recovered. It was an Audi Q 7. There was five occupants in the vehicle and they were recovered by local divers.”
He said they have identified the deceased and informed their families overnight. Supt Nevin confirmed two adults – one male and one female – and three children – two male and one female – died in the incident.
Gardai were assisted at the scene by other emergency services, the RNLI, the local fire brigade, the HSE, local divers and also the local helicopter.
“We are treating this as a very tragic incident.”
Supt Nevin said a number of witnesses have come forward and appealed for others to contact them in Buncrana station on 074 932 0540.
Ruth Daniels, 57, who is originally from the Shantallow died in tragedy
