Heroic Davitt Walsh had an emotional meeting with the mother of the baby he rescued from the waters of Lough Swilly in Co Donegal.
The 28-year-old travelled to Derry to meet with Louise Daniels, whose four-month-old baby Rionaghac-Ann McGrotty he saved following Sunday night’s tragedy off Buncrana Pier.
Ms Daniels’s partner Seán McGrotty, her two sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), her mother Ruth Daniels (59) and sister Jodie Lee Daniels (14) perished in the tragedy after Mr McGrotty’s SUV slipped off the pier and sank.
Mr Walsh’s girlfriend Stephanie Knox wrote on her Facebook page how she had been with her boyfriend when they met with the Daniels and McGrotty families.
She said “My biggest admiration goes out to Louise, the Daniels family and the McGrotty family. They are amazing, strong people. Meeting them today helped me and Davitt so much and my thoughts and prayers are with the family.”
Mr Walsh and Ms Knox also went to St Mary’s College, Knox’s former school where tragic Jodi Lee Daniels was also a pupil.
A small vigil for the family was held and the choir sang a number of songs.
Mr Walsh and Ms Knox then met in private with Ms Daniels. She had tried to contact the Kerrykeel man on Monday but Mr Walsh was so traumatised that he asked for some time.
Mr Walsh also met with Rionaghac-Ann after he was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital on Sunday night. “It was such a special moment. I was so nervous but I will never forget it,” said Mr Walsh.