Lifeboat crew members battle in vain to save colleague after his car slipped into the sea
A lifeboat volunteer drowned after his car slipped into the sea in a freak accident.
Some of his fellow crew members desperately tried to save their colleague, but they could not get to him in time.
The tragedy unfolded on Arranmore Island off the coast of Donegal at around 5am this morning.
The victim has been named locally as Lee Early (26), who was from Arranmore Island, according to reports.
The tightly knit island community, which has a population of about 450 people, were grieving on Sunday following his death.
Another man in his 30s was lucky to escape after their car went into the sea at Poolawaddy Pier just after 5am .
Mr Early, who worked on the Arranmore Ferry, was also a volunteer on the island’s RNLI lifeboat.
Members of the lifeboat crew, whose station is close to the scene of the tragedy, rushed to save Mr Early and his friend after their car entered the water.
