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21st Mar 2016

VIDEO: Heroic Donegal man gives heartbreaking account of rescuing a baby during the Buncrana tragedy

JOE

“He did the greatest work and had no thought for himself.”

Davitt Walsh has been hailed a hero after rescuing a four-month-old baby from the water during the tragedy in Buncrana on Sunday night.

A car slipped into Lough Swilly off a jetty and five people lost their lives in the heartbreaking incident – all of which were family members of young Derry City footballer Josh Daniels.

There was only one survivor, baby Rionaghac-Ann. She was saved by local man, Davitt Walsh, a former League of Ireland footballer with Finn Harps, Shelbourne and Bohemians.

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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.”

Walsh spoke bravely with RTÉ News about the tragic events.