Buncrana Pier tragedy hero Davitt Walsh and his girlfriend Stephanie Knox have been honoured for their bravery once more at the Irish Water Safety’s National Annual Awards.
Davitt and Stephanie were presented with Rescue Appreciation Awards for their heroic acts on the night of the tragic drowning off Buncrana Pier last March.
Minister Simon Coveney presented the Seiko Just In Time Rescue Award to the couple in appreciation of their efforts to help the Daniels family and the McGrotty family, and for saving the life of baby Rioghnach-Ann McGrotty.
Three body-boarders from Monaghan also received awards for saving four teens in Donegal in September.
Davitt Walsh was unable to attend the ceremony yesterday in Dublin Castle, but his friend James King accepted the honour on his behalf.
This is one of many awards given to the couple for their bravery on that tragic night.
On the 20th of March 2016, Davitt, from Kerrykeel, and Stephanie, from Derry, were walking along Buncrana pier when Stephanie noticed a car in the water.
The pair immediately ran down to the slipway where they met local man Francis Crawford, who pleaded with them to swim out to the Jeep.
Davitt entered the freezing waters of Lough Swilly and swam 40 metres out to sea to reach the Jeep. Four-month old baby Rioghnach-Ann was passed from the arms of her father to Davitt, and he managed to swim back to land with her.
His girlfriend Stephanie, from Derry, also played a crucial role, and stripped the wet clothes off Rioghnach-Ann, and kept the baby warm until emergency services arrived.
The accident claimed the lives of the father Sean, sons Mark and Evan, mother-in-law Ruth Daniels and her teenage daughter Jodie-Lee.
Three brave rescuers from Monaghan also received awards at the event for their heroic acts in Bundoran in September this year.
On the 17th of September, John Flannery, his girlfriend Roisin Treanor and her brother Martin Treanor rescued four teenage girls after they had got caught in a rip current while swimming in Bundoran, Co. Donegal.
Thirty-two lives were saved from drowning through the brave actions of forty-seven rescuers who received recognition at the event yesterday.
Speaking at the event, IWS Chairman Martin O’Sullivan said, “Tragically an average of 133 people drown in Ireland every year and although that’s 133 too many, the figure would be even higher but for the dramatic efforts of these individuals who saved others from drowning and the ongoing work of volunteers teaching swimming and water rescue skills.”
“Complacency around aquatic environments is simply not an option”, remarked Mr O’Sullivan, adding that “thirty children aged fourteen and under drowned in the last ten years, reflecting the importance of constant uninterrupted child supervision.”
“I appeal to all adults to make themselves more aware of the dangers in, on and around water”, continued the IWS Chairman. “It only takes seconds for tragedy to strike and this can so easily be avoided if people take responsibility for their own safety by learning about the hazards.”
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