Ruth Daniels, 59, her daughter 15-year-old Jodie-Lee, Sean McGrotty, 49, the partner of one of Ms Daniel's other daughters, and his children Mark 11, and eight-year-old Evan, all died in the horror incident last night.
But his baby girl Rioghnach-Ann, aged at just two months, was miraculously saved when she was passed out of a car window to a hero rescuer.
The infant – thought to only be a few months' old – was rushed to Letterkenny Hospital and was in a critical condition last night after the disaster at Buncrana pier in Ireland.
Eye-witness and pensioner Francis Crawford has since described the "heart-rendering" scenes as the family – from the Londonderry area – shouted to him from the car as it bobbed half submerged in Lough Swilly.
Mr McGrotty's brother Jim has since revealed to local media that "poor" Louise McGrotty – the baby's mother – was suffering after losing her husband Sean, their two sons, her sister and her mother.
He said: "Words cannot express the enormity of the tragedy which has befallen our family.
"We are all numbed by this tragedy which has visited us. If there is anything good which has come out of it, it is the fact that baby Rionaghac-Ann has been saved."
Mr McGrotty said his brother was a devoted dad and husband and idolised his children, adding: "The grief of the family cannot be measured.
"There was a numbness and stillness in the family home and my thoughts and prayers and the thoughts and prayers of the entire parish and further afield are with those bereaved."
The exact circumstances of how the car ended up in Lough Swilly have not been established but it is believed the slipway may have been covered in algae.
"Once again Inishowen has been hit with a terrible, terrible tragedy," said local councillor Jack Murray, who was at the scene last night.
"We knew that something awful had happened when we saw all the emergency services and lifeboat volunteers at the pier, but we weren't prepared for the full horror of it.
Tragedy unfolding in Buncrana tonight after a jeep with a family onboard went off the pier #Donegal.pic.twitter.com/vwsRH6NtZF— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) 20 March 2016
"Buncrana is in mourning.
"We believe those who died were not from here and may have been visiting and enjoying a lovely sunny Sunday, and then this awful incident happened.
"A family somewhere is about to get the most awful news.
"We'll pray the young child survives."
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness meanwhile tweeted: "Very sad news of fatalities in an incident at Buncrana Pier tonight.
"Thoughts are with relatives of those involved & rescue services. Tragic."
Two lifeboats from Lough Swilly and Greencastle, a helicopter from Sligo, gardai, ambulances, the fire brigade and local fishing boats were all involved in the rescue mission which lasted for several hours.
A Garda spokesman said: "Gardai and emergency services are at the scene of an incident that occurred at Buncrana Pier this evening.
"A car entered the water and a search of the area is currently ongoing.
"No further information at present."
It is understood the car has been removed for examination.
The pier is a popular attraction for tourists and locals and it is believed the family may have stopped to admire the sunset.
There has been an outpouring of grief on social media.
Mr McGuinness added: "My thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by the devastating tragedy unfolding in Buncrana this evening.
"Our thoughts and appreciation must also be with the emergency services who have had to deal with this tragic situation."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described the news as "heartbreaking".
No comments:
Post a Comment