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15th Oct 2016

Davitt Walsh, the hero of the Buncrana tragedy has been awarded a medal for bravery

He was given a gold medal...

Rebecca Keane

The 29-year-old has been honoured by the government.

Earlier this month, the Buncrana hero promised to teach the child he saved to swim  when she got older.

Speaking at the Pride of Ireland awards, Davitt told of how he wanted to teach her water safety in the future.

“Rioghnach-Ann is going to be there for ever… She’s going to be part of my life and I want her to be part  of my life. That’s what I hope.”

“One thing I definitely want to do is take her swimming – make sure she knows how to swim.

“I’ll wait until she’s three, four or five but that will fly in.”

According to The Irish TimesDavitt Walsh has been rewarded for his bravery in saving a 4 month old baby from the car that sank from a pier in Buncrana, Co. Donegal.

Davitt, who saved Rionaghac-Ann McGrotty earlier this year from a sinking car, was presented last night with a gold medal, the Michael Heffernan award for his part in saving the baby’s life.

At Farmleigh House in Co. Dublin, the Minister for Transport Shane Ross presented the awards and praised Davitt for his “quick reactions to a very rapidly deteriorating situation”.