Buncrana pier tragedy heroes to be honoured at Irish Water Safety awards

The brave actions of Buncrana pier tragedy heroes Davitt Walsh and Stephanie Knox were recognised on Tuesday afternoon at Irish Water Safety's National Award Ceremony.
Stephanie Knox and Davitt Walsh.Stephanie Knox and Davitt Walsh.
Stephanie Knox and Davitt Walsh.

The duo were among 47 rescuers to be honoured at the ceremony at the Print Works

Conference Centre, Dublin Castle.

Mr Simon Coveney, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government will present the ‘Seiko Just In Time Rescue Award’ and other awards to rescuers in appreciation for saving so many lives.

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On March 20th of this year, Davitt Walsh and Stephanie Knox were driving from t

Buncrana pier when Stephanie noticed a car in the water. The pair immediately ran down to the slipway, where they met a local man who pleaded with them to swim out to the Jeep.

Davitt entered the water and swam 40 metres out to sea to reach a jeep that had slipped off the pier at Buncrana. Upon reaching the vehicle, Sean McGrotty, Rioghnach’s father, broke the car window and in doing so broke his arm. He got out of the vehicle onto the window sill and gave Rioghnach to David. He then got back in to the car knowing his fate. Davitt managed to swim and make it back to dry land. Stephanie took the baby girl and wrapped her up in her coat until emergency services arrived.

Other award recipients include body boarders John Flannery, Martin Treanor and Roisin

Treanor from Monaghan who, on September 17th last, rescued a group of girls who had got into difficulty swimming in Bundoran, Co. Donegal.