BUNCRANA Pier tragedy hero Davitt Walsh was honoured at the Pride of Ireland awards ceremony yesterday evening.
Davitt risked his own life when he entered the chilly waters of Lough Swilly to try an help a Derry family whose car had slipped into the water.
And his heroic actions saved the life of four-month old baby Rioghnach-Ann.
The tragedy in March stunned the nation and the accident claimed the lives of Sean McGrotty, 49, his young sons Mark, 12, and Evan, 8, his 59-year-old mother-in-law Ruth Daniels and sister-in-law Jodi Lee Daniels, aged 14.
The Audi Q7 4 X 4 jeep he was driving skidded on algae at the pier, and the vehicle entered the water.
Davitt Walsh, who was in Buncrana with his girlfriend Stephanie Knox that fateful evening, was asked by local man Francis Crawford could he swim as the family called for help.
His heroic bravery was rewarded at a glitzy bash at The Hilton Hotel, in Dublin last night – and he won the UTV Special Recognition Award.
The judges at the event said: “Davitt didn’t think twice about risking his own when he waded into Lough Swilly.
“His heroic actions in saving little Rioghnach-Ann has offered a vital chink of light in the darkest of times.
“His modest heroism has rightly been the source of admiration throughout Ireland and further afield. He is the Pride of Ireland.”
Davitt said: “There are some brilliant people out there. I never thought I’d win an award like this or this would ever happen to me.
“In all honesty I don’t feel like a hero at all.
“I only wished at the time I could have done more.”
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