The little girl who was the only survivor of the 2016 Buncrana pier tragedy has returned to the town to present a cheque to the heroes of Lough Swilly Lifeboat.
As a four-month old baby, Ríoghnach McGrotty was rescued from her father Sean’s sinking car as it slid beneath the waves of Lough Swilly in March 2016.
She became the only survivor of the tragedy which claimed the lives of her father along with her brothers. Mark (12) and Evan (8), her grandmother Ruth Daniels (57) and her aunt and mum’s sister Jodie-Lee Daniels (14).
The family had been enjoying an early spring evening out at Buncrana. As RIoghnach’s father tried to drive off a slip-way at Buncrana pier, his car slid into the sea on algae.
Donegal man Davitt Walsh swam out to the sinking vehicle and Mr McGrotty passed his baby daughter out through the window pleading with Mr Walsh to save her life.
Moments later, the car slipped under the sea and all five victims were lost.
Lough Swilly lifeboat crews have since described the 2016 “shout” as standing out from any other tragedy they have had to deal with.
Former lifeboat spokesman John McCarter said none of the crews would ever forget it. Mr McCarter said the tragedy was “harrowing” for all at the Buncrana RNLI station.
Now eight years old, Ríoghnach returned to the station on Tuesday to present a cheque for €4,100 (£3,514) to the lifeboat crew. She also presented a cheque for the same amount to Derry athlete Danny Quigley for his “Celebration of Life” charity which aims to mark the lives of people who have died through suicide.
A spokesman for Buncrana RNLI said the money was raised through the Evan McGrotty Fund which was set up in memory of Ríoghnach’s brother.
“It was fantastic to see Ríoghnach back at Ned’s Point Station with her lifeboat family,” the spokesman said.
