A man who fell from a cliff in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal, last Sunday was yesterday acclaimed a hero after he died.
Student Alan Gallagher died from severe injuries after he tried to save his friend from a 27-metre drop, family friend Fr Cathal Ó Fearraí said.
Mr Gallagher(19), a first-year student at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, died early yesterday morning at Sligo General Hospital. He was on a life-support system in the intensive care unit since the accident at 7am last Sunday.
His best friend Niall Anderson (21), a decorator from Cavangarden, Ballyshannon, died immediately when the pair tumbled 13 metres down a steep slope and dropped another 13 metres to the strand at the popular resort.
They had been out with friends in Bundoran and finished the night at an early morning party in Rossnowlagh, some 14km along the coast.
Four girls with them took a taxi home at 6.30am. The tragedy occurred while the two men waited for the taxi to return. Another man with them raised the alarm.
Fr Ó Fearraí, parish priest of Kilbarron, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, said after Mr Gallagher died: "It's another dark day for the community. We have lost a second popular young man."
He added: "Alan was a very kind, gentle person. He was always willing to help in the hour of need. It was typical of his great generosity that when Niall fell over the cliff, Alan went to his rescue. Indeed, he nearly had him with his hand when the whole cliff gave away.
"It was a very generous act by Alan in trying to save his friend."
Mr Gallagher, from Clyhore, Ballyshannon, was one of a family of four. His father, Brendan, is an IT executive with the ESB.
Mr Anderson was buried on Tuesday.
Several hundred young people attended the funeral, including team-mates from Aodh Rua GAA club and the Erne Wanderers soccer club.