Davitt Walsh has been dubbed a local hero after saving four-month-old Rionaghac-Ann from the tragedy that saw five of her family members lose their lives.
Sean McGrotty (49), his young sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels (59) and her daughter Jodi Lee Daniels (14) lost their lives when a vehicle slipped into Lough Swilly from a pier in the picturesque village of Buncrana, devastating the small community.
Earlier today Gardai expressed their thanks to Davitt for saving the four-month-old who is now being treated in Letterkenny hospital and is said to be doing well.
The Kerrykeel man was said to have saved the young baby's life by eye-witness Francis Crawford.
"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," Crawford told Newstalk. "His quick actions definitely saved that child’s life.
"He headed out and came back with a wee baby, he got back in and shouted: ‘Take the baby, take the baby’ – he could barely stand.
"He did the greatest work and had no thought for himself."
