A WOMAN whose family was wiped out when their car slid off a Co Donegal pier last month is to take part in the Belfast Marathon along with the man who rescued her baby daughter.
Louise James will join Davitt Walsh and other family members and friends for the May 2 run to help raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK.
The charity was chosen as it had provided help to Ms James’s youngest son, Evan who suffered from the condition.
Ms James’s partner, Sean McGrotty (49), sons, Mark (12) and Evan (8), her mother Ruth Daniels (57) and sister, Jodie-Lee Daniels (15) died in the March 20 tragedy.
The family had been enjoying a trip to Buncrana in Co Donegal and had parked the car on the pier to watch the sun go down when tragedy struck.
As Mr McGrotty made frantic attempts to turn his car on a slipway, the vehicle slid on the algae-covered surface and slid into Lough Swilly.
Mr Walsh, who was on the pier, swam to the car and was given the couple’s youngest daughter, four-month-old Rioghnach-Ann by Mr McGrotty who pleaded with him to save his daughter.
Despite Mr Walsh’s efforts to save one of the other children, the car slipped under the water and the rest of the family drowned.
Davitt, from Kerrykeel in Donegal, was pictured cradling the baby in his arms following an emotional meeting with Louise James in the days following the tragedy and has said he is looking forward to being part of the little girl's life as she grows up.
Her mother, who paid a heartfelt tribute to her daughter's rescuer at the funerals of her family, said her daughter was her only reason to go on living,.
Ms James will run part of the marathon as part of #TEAMEVAN in memory of her son and the charity which helped him during his short life.
The idea was the brainchild of retired footballer, Tommy McCallion.
Mr McCallion’s son Tom was Evan’s best friend. The Derry man, who will also run the marathon, said up to 100 runners would wear the Muscular Dystrophy colours with pride on the day.
Saying the marathon would be memorable and emotional he said: “The runners will be made up of family members from the wider McGrotty and Daniel’s families and, with special significance, both Louise and Davitt Walsh."
