The Gardaí have extended their gratitude to members of the public who attempted to help the family who tragically lost their lives after their Jeep slid off a pier and into water at Lough Swilly Co. Donegal yesterday evening.
Five members of the same family from Co. Derry perished when their vehicle entered the water in the picturesque town of Buncrana at approximately 7.15pm on Sunday in an incident which has rocked the tight-knit community.
Realising the occupants of the car were in grave danger, it has been established that a member of the public entered the water and saved a two-month-old baby girl who was handed to him by individuals within the vehicle.
According to numerous reports, the heroic individual returned to the shore with the infant who is now being treated in Letterkenny University Hospital, but was unable to save the remaining members of the family.
Paying tribute to those who raised the alarm and made attempts to rescue the six individuals in the Audi Q7, the Gardaí said: "I would like to thank the public, particularly to the local person who took the baby from the vehicle."
Currently in the process of investigating the tragic incident, authorities have appealed to the public for information, saying: "We are appealing for witnesses. We have a number of witnesses who have come forward, but if there are other witnesses I would like them to come forward to Buncrana garda station."
Post mortems are being carried out on the man, woman, teenage girl and two young boys who lost their lives during the weekend tragedy.
