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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Justin Kelly

Rescue 116 crash victim Dara Fitzpatrick remembered as 'smiley and brave' on her birthday

The sister of Rescue 116 captain Dara Fitzpatrick has posted a heartfelt tribute on her birthday.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Dr Niamh Fitzpatrick described her sister as "smiley" and "so bloody brave" as she marked "the day her sister "came into this world."

Dara was piloting Irish Coast Guard helicopter R116 when it crashed off the County Mayo coast in 2017, killing her and three other crew members.

Read More : 'You'll be dead next week' - Irish mum gets stark warning on trip to doctors

Earlier this year, the jury at the inquest into the deaths of the four Irish Coast Guard aircrew recorded verdicts of accidental death.

Dara's sister Niamh remembered her sister with a glowing tribute.

She posted: "Today marks the date that my smiley, dimple-cheeked baby sister Dara came into the world.

"She grew up to be warm, funny, big-hearted, kind. And brave. So very bloody brave. She was one of life’s truly good people.

"Happy birthday, Dara Fitz. Loved and missed every day."

A file photo of Air and Sea Rescue Pilot Dara Fitzpatrick pictured at CHC Ireland in the Irish Coast Guards Search and Rescue Helicopter in Shannon . (Press 22)

The heartbreaking post was met with hundreds of replies of support from followers.

One said: "Happy Heavenly Birthday to your sister Dara. I can it in her eyes, she was full of devilment and that smile."

Another wrote: "Happy Birthday Dara Fitz. Thinking of all who love and miss you. You are a loss not just to them but to all of us."

A third added: "If every Dara we lost had a Niamh to keep reminding us all what a lovely person she was, wouldn’t the world be a better place?"

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