The community of Buncrana in Co. Donegal is in mourning today following the tragic death of five people last night.
According to reports, a couple and their three children lost their lives after their Jeep plunged into the water at Lough Swilly in the popular tourist town at approximately 7.15 pm yesterday evening.
It has been established that a fourth child, believed to be aged between two and three months, is currently in a critical condition at Letterkenny University Hospital having been rescued by a quick-thinking onlooker.
Gardaí, ambulance crews, RNLI lifeboat crews from Lough Swilly and Greencastle, and the Coast Guard 118 Rescue helicopter participated in a search and rescue operation last night, with Gardaí currently investigating the possibility that the Jeep plunged off the town pier when attempting to exit the area.
Commenting on the tragedy which has rocked the picturesque town, a local resident said: "Buncrana is a town in mourning. It appears this family were visiting the area and a beautiful sunny March day has ended in absolute tragedy."
Having witnessed the heartwrenching scene, an onlooker described the events, saying: "I said to my wife 'If those people don't get back, they won't be able to get back' and the man shouted 'phone the coastguard."
"I phoned 999 and asked for the coast guard. Everything was on its way. I explained that there was a desperate situation developing and that there was a car bobbing in the water and there seemed to be a family in it and it's about to go down."
Five individuals. three of whom were primary school age, were pronounced dead at the scene and post mortems are due to be carried out at Letterkenny University Hospital today.
Our thoughts go out to all those affected by last night's heartbreaking incident.
