Five dead in Buncrana accident

Victor

anna080 wrote: »

I don't think anyone is to blame for this. It's just a tragic accident. I'm sure if they had known there was such risk involved they would have done everything to prevent it. It's one of those things where in hindsight we can see the risk and point the finger but it's just a tragedy and I certainly wouldn't want anyone to feel responsible for this.

This was foreseeable and preventable, this is proven by the presence of the gate. Someone installed a gate so things like this wouldn't happen. Bus someone left it open. While one might not want to engage in vindictive action against those involved, at the same time, one needs to face up to the realities of (a) people died and (b) we don't want further people to die.

retro:electro

Victor wrote: »

This was foreseeable and preventable, this is proven by the presence of the gate. Someone installed a gate so things like this wouldn't happen. Bus someone left it open. While one might not want to engage in vindictive action against those involved, at the same time, one needs to face up to the realities of (a) people died and (b) we don't want further people to die.

I know. But if you look around there are risks everywhere, but for me this falls under the category of a tragic accident. I would not want anyone to go to bed tonight feeling responsible for this tragedy.

Yillan

Stheno wrote: »

You'd be amazed at how you react. I've been fortunate twice in my life to be able to enable someone to live. The first was when I was about 9 and came across a man who had slashed his wrists near a river in a van. I ran to the nearest public place to get him help.

The second was as a lifeguard, when a small child ended up in the deep end and in difficulties. I jumped in and got them out.

In such scenarios you forget about yourself

Neither particularly sound like particularly dangerous situations for you. Not to take away from the fact you may have saved a life there, but in either scenario if you had remembered yourself, would you not have done the same thing? I don't see the parallels between the bravery of the man in Donegal, and you calling an ambulance, and doing your job as a lifeguard in a swimming pool.

Keane2baMused

This tragedy has really cut deep yet I don't know the family who lost their lives.

Shedding some tears for their tragic loss and cuddling my babies that bit closer tonight.

TallGlass

I do hope that something is done that this type of incident never happens again not only at this location but any location that could have this issue.

I just hope these people didn't die in vein and a real solution is too come along with maybe education for others on what is the best thing to do in these situations? Should at first signs of trouble just abandon the car/jeep or stay with it. If I was in the same situation I wouldn't have any idea, any would be going off what I seen on busters.

Or even some type of equipment for people who use there cars near the sea that if they get into a difficult situation, they can activate something that makes the cars inflatable, maybe something similar to a rib that once pressed makes the car/jeep ready for water by filling up bags like a rib around the vehicle. I don't know, but I feel so sorry for the family that I would never like to hear something similar again.

TallGlass

Thinking about it more, an even simpler solution would be say to install some type of locking device. Maybe a small wall or a raised ramp even having to attach your car to a wire and once it goes over a certain distance it automatically locks stopping it going to far down the ramp.

Grid.

Horrible tragedy....God love them.:(

HeidiHeidi

Jesus, what is it with having to torture the bereaved with personal interviews right after every incident? :mad:

I'm listening to the brother of the man who died being interviewed, struggling for words, yet the interviewer keeps asking questions. I heard direct quotes from his bereaved partner on the radio earlier, I presume some journo got to her as well overnight.

RTE hotfooted it up to the scene and broadcast half the 6 One news last night from the pier.

Is this really what we as news consumers have become these days, that we demand that level of intrusion on a tragically - utterly tragically, I just can't think of any word for it - bereaved family?

I've said it before in this thread - report the news by all means, but for the love of God leave the families to grieve in some sort of privacy :mad:

NIMAN

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Jesus, what is it with having to torture the bereaved with personal interviews right after every incident? :mad:

I'm listening to the brother of the man who died being interviewed, struggling for words, yet the interviewer keeps asking questions. I heard direct quotes from his bereaved partner on the radio earlier, I presume some journo got to her as well overnight.

RTE hotfooted it up to the scene and broadcast half the 6 One news last night from the pier.

Is this really what we as news consumers have become these days, that we demand that level of intrusion on a tragically - utterly tragically, I just can't think of any word for it - bereaved family?

I've said it before in this thread - report the news by all means, but for the love of God leave the families to grieve in some sort of privacy :mad:

Totally agree, it seems to be a reecent thing in our news, probably influenced by the US news.

I don't see why Sharon Ni Bheolain had to be at the actual scene of the tragedy. Do they think its important and adds to the reporting? I thought it was tacky and tasteless,nothing else.

As for the brother of the man who died giving an interview, perhaps he wanted to give that interview to thank the guy who saved the baby? The fact that he didn't even know the guys name when the rest of us did shows that he was obviously concerned with other things, but perhaps he wanted to say what he did to camera? I am sure the family will meet with him at a later date.

Unfortunately it is now the nature of news, everyone wants to get as close and personal to tragedies as possible. Come Thursday, there will be loads of media at the funerals, pointing their cameras at the grieving. I can't see any media outlet not attending for fear of missing a picture that some other newspaper or channel gets.

Buona Fortuna

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Jesus, what is it with having to torture the bereaved with personal interviews right after every incident? :mad:

I'm listening to the brother of the man who died being interviewed, struggling for words, yet the interviewer keeps asking questions. I heard direct quotes from his bereaved partner on the radio earlier, I presume some journo got to her as well overnight.

RTE hotfooted it up to the scene and broadcast half the 6 One news last night from the pier.

Is this really what we as news consumers have become these days, that we demand that level of intrusion on a tragically - utterly tragically, I just can't think of any word for it - bereaved family?

I've said it before in this thread - report the news by all means, but for the love of God leave the families to grieve in some sort of privacy :mad:

Journos can be total cnuts.

Years ago something happened where my wife worked. You would not believe the phonecalls and bogus commercial enquiries - not just from the gutter press either, BBC were as bad.

HeidiHeidi

I'm glad it's not just me.

I noticed it a few years ago (and sorry, this is not meant to be a flippant comparison in any way) when they started insisting on interviewing the loser in, say, the Wimbledon final about 30 seconds after the last point had been played. Forcing him/her to give a somehow coherent interview when I'm quite sure all they want to do is curl up in a ball and recover. Is it really necessary, what does it bring to the table by forcing such an interview??? It's just completely gratuitous.

That's sport, and relatively trivial in the greater scheme of things.

But yesterday's news coverage of this tragedy brings it to a whole new level. I'm a great fan of "if you don't like it, switch the channel" but in this case I still know it's happening.

I find it utterly, utterly depressing.

K-9

Apparently the media think we need this wall to wall coverage. Why that is, I don't have a clue.

To try and lighten things up, telling us the news standing up is now the norm.

irishgirl19

I can't stop thinking about it. Read this morning how Davitt said the little baby was looking at him as he swam. Its all so sad. Puts things into perspective.
Its just heartbreaking

wokingvoter

K-9 wrote: »

Apparently the media think we need this wall to wall coverage. Why that is, I don't have a clue.

To try and lighten things up, telling us the news standing up is now the norm.

I'm afraid a large section of news viewers and newspaper buyers demand this level of coverage. The news outlets are only giving the people what they want
It's misery porn
They can't get enough of it. No detail too small to report to add to the sensationalism

NIMAN

wokingvoter wrote: »

I'm afraid a large section of news viewers and newspaper buyers demand this level of coverage. The news outlets are only giving the people what they want
It's misery porn
They can't get enough of it. No detail too small to report to add to the sensationalism

But do the viewers demand it, really?
How can we tell?

Who says the viewers are demanding it to be covered in so much depth? You can't quantify that in any way. If Sharon had been in the studio telling us the story last night, do you think we would have had calls on social media for her to be up in Buncrana? I think not.

gimli2112

LynnGrace wrote: »

Watching the news this evening I thought that two people, in particular, displayed huge courage and dignity. One was the brother of the man who died, and he spoke, onscreen, to the man who saved the baby's life, saying that he didn't know his name, but wanted to thank him for what he did.

Thought the exact same thing myself when I saw it on the news yesterday.

Nekarsulm

TallGlass wrote: »

I do hope that something is done that this type of incident never happens again not only at this location but any location that could have this issue.

I just hope these people didn't die in vein and a real solution is too come along with maybe education for others on what is the best thing to do in these situations? Should at first signs of trouble just abandon the car/jeep or stay with it. If I was in the same situation I wouldn't have any idea, any would be going off what I seen on busters.

Or even some type of equipment for people who use there cars near the sea that if they get into a difficult situation, they can activate something that makes the cars inflatable, maybe something similar to a rib that once pressed makes the car/jeep ready for water by filling up bags like a rib around the vehicle. I don't know, but I feel so sorry for the family that I would never like to hear something similar again.

Or a bit of common sense and thought. Don't drive down a boat slipway. Dosent matter if you have 4wd or not, dosent matter if you have an Audi or a Micra, if there is no grip, there is no grip. Why do you think tractors are used to pull boats in and out of the water?

HeidiHeidi

Well I've just sent in a (furious, slightly incoherent, ranting) complaint to RTE about their coverage.

complaints@rte.ie, if anyone else is interested in doing the same.

I'm quite sure they haven't breached any guidelines or rules (they have plenty lawyers to advise them on that) but I'm happy to have expressed my utter disgust at the manner of coverage, and hope that someone somewhere takes note.

B0jangles

^^^

I thought the interview on the 6.01 news last night with Davitt Walsh was particularly disgusting; the poor man was obviously barely able to keep himself together but the interviewer thought it was appropriate to ask him how he felt about not being able to save everyone.

Utterly utterly disgusting.

K-9

wokingvoter wrote: »

I'm afraid a large section of news viewers and newspaper buyers demand this level of coverage. The news outlets are only giving the people what they want
It's misery porn
They can't get enough of it. No detail too small to report to add to the sensationalism

I think you've a point to a certain extent.

I'd say it is more the CNN/Sky News media generation leaving the likes of RTE/BBC feeling like they have to copy it.

Are people demanding RTR be in Buncrana or Sky pitch out in Spain for 2 weeks covering Maddy McCann?

I'd say it is some knob in creative thinking this is ground breaking, while most of us think, what's the point of this?

Midnight Sundance

B0jangles wrote: »

^^^

I thought the interview on the 6.01 news last night with Davitt Walsh was particularly disgusting; the poor man was obviously barely able to keep himself together but the interviewer thought it was appropriate to ask him how he felt about not being able to save everyone.

Utterly utterly disgusting.

I thought the same. And no doubt, I'm sure the families of all involved are suffering enough without hearing a blow by blow account of how their loved ones were screaming for help or the little baby looked at him when he was making his way to shore.
I can't get these poor people out of my head but I don't think it's my business to hear about their last few minutes on this earth.
God love all those connected to this. Such tragedy .

Sam Kade

TallGlass wrote: »

Thinking about it more, an even simpler solution would be say to install some type of locking device. Maybe a small wall or a raised ramp even having to attach your car to a wire and once it goes over a certain distance it automatically locks stopping it going to far down the ramp.

Simplest solution of all don't park on boat slip ways.

RTé/Irish media seem to have checklist when covering tragedies like this. Priority is given to finding a priest and politician who don't even know the people who die to go on camera and talk about how awful it is and what lovely people they were. If they want to help they should go and be with the families and help them in their grief.

Interviewing family and the man who saved the baby was particularly disgusting last night :mad:

HeidiHeidi

Deleted User wrote: »

RTé/Irish media seem to have checklist when covering tragedies like this. Priority is given to finding a priest and politician who don't even know the people who die to go on camera and talk about how awful it is and what lovely people they were. If they want to help they should go and be with the families and help them in their grief.

Interviewing family and the man who saved the baby was particularly disgusting last night :mad:

While I wouldn't be a fan of the politicians/priests, at least they're not directly involved - so if the media have to fill the airwaves/columns with something well then that's not quite so bad.

I wish people would express their anger (and I sense a lot of it simmering) directly to RTE or other media exploiting this and other tragedies - I'm not sure it would change much, but it might give someone pause for thought.

ETA - I don't mean to bash RTE in particular - that just happens to be the station where I've got most of my news for the last two days. I won't even bring myself to look at/click on any Indo reporting - if RTE are as bad as they are, I can only imagine what the Indo are up to.

wokingvoter

NIMAN wrote: »

But do the viewers demand it, really?
How can we tell?

Who says the viewers are demanding it to be covered in so much depth? You can't quantify that in any way. If Sharon had been in the studio telling us the story last night, do you think we would have had calls on social media for her to be up in Buncrana? I think not.

On the other hand, if there were enough complaints to RTE and a general hue and cry about the exploitation of witnesses and other extended family members, and the completely over the top treatment of these "human interest" stories, then RTE would have to review their "approach"
There must be no actual complaints, or not enough, to warrant a change of attitude
By default then you can say that THIS is what the people
Likewise, I haven't seen the Indo but I'm sure it's cover to cover, and every possible angle covered
If Indo readers didn't like it they only have to stop buying it
But they don't

HeidiHeidi

wokingvoter wrote: »

On the other hand, if there were enough complaints to RTE and a general hue and cry about the exploitation of witnesses and other extended family members, and the completely over the top treatment of these "human interest" stories, then RTE would have to review their "approach"
There must be no actual complaints, or not enough, to warrant a change of attitude
By default then you can say that THIS is what the people
Likewise, I haven't seen the Indo but I'm sure it's cover to cover, and every possible angle covered
If Indo readers didn't like it they only have to stop buying it
But they don't

This.

Five minutes (if even that) to send an email, that's all it takes.

NIMAN

I just think its incorrect for people to say that media now report in a certain way because thats what the people want.

This has never been measured.

We get what the media give us, and they in turn tell us that they are covering it this way cos its what their viewers want.

K-9

Deleted User wrote: »

RTé/Irish media seem to have checklist when covering tragedies like this. Priority is given to finding a priest and politician who don't even know the people who die to go on camera and talk about how awful it is and what lovely people they were. If they want to help they should go and be with the families and help them in their grief.

Interviewing family and the man who saved the baby was particularly disgusting last night :mad:

Just thinking probably a lot of that comes back to the troubles. Such a small country, statelet or community affected by so many deaths, interviewing the local priest/minister and then the councillor becomes the norm.

The extension is the the TD/councillor at the funeral so of course they'll be at a tragedy.

wokingvoter

NIMAN wrote: »

I just think its incorrect for people to say that media now report in a certain way because thats what the people want.

This has never been measured.

We get what the media give us, and they in turn tell us that they are covering it this way cos its what their viewers want.

But is is measured, to a certain extent
In the case of the state broadcaster for example, the licence fee payer (the viewer) has the power to control, to a certain extent, what we will accept from programs
A lot of people sat down to watch the two main evening news programs yesterday
How many felt strongly enough to complain?
Not enough, I'll gauruntee. If viewers went as far as to complain to their TD etc then RTE could be wrapped on the knuckles by the Minister
But while people don't seem unhappy then you can presume that they are satisfied with the service RTE provide

seamus

The Black Oil wrote: »

Can I ask what you mean by this? I've generally only heard 'strong/experienced swimmer' in relation to tragedies like this and it seems to be a bit of a media phrase. I assume it's not all down to strength and maybe more so ability to deal with the water as whole. Different story at sea, mind you.

As someone else has mentioned, being confident in the water and being a strong swimmer are two entirely different things. Having learned to swim early I would have always considered myself an able swimmer who could get myself out of any trouble. Then a couple of years back I decided to swim regularly, with a view to maybe doing a triathlon. First off I had a couple of weeks realising that my technique was all over the place. I could swim alright, but not at any great pace.

Then once I started being able to do full lengths of a 25m pool, the effort required to do multiple lengths became very apparent. 200m is not a long distance. If you found yourself this far out at sea and fighting against a tide, anyone who in fact doesn't do much swimming will likely completely exhaust themselves trying to get back in, regardless of how confident they are in the water or fit and able bodied they are.

Then throw in the challenge of being fully clothed and/or attempting to rescue someone else. It is even simple things like that. If this man hadn't taken ten seconds to remove his clothes or had spent five more seconds trying to rescue one of the other kids, we'd be talking about seven drowned people today rather than five. It's probably scant consolation for him, but he did absolutely everything he could, he gave his all.