‘Miracle baby’ dies as father’s efforts to save her fail

GRIEF-STRICKEN islanders in West Cork spoke yesterday of a father’s frantic efforts to resuscitate his toddler daughter after she fell into a low-tide inlet.

The girl, the daughter of a Russian couple living on Sherkin Island, died on Wednesday night in Cork University Hospital after a day-long fight for life.

The toddler’s father, Sergei Dunaeva, a doctor, discovered 18-month-old Alénka lying in under two feet of water at an area just off The Lane. He revived her and a faint pulse was detected, locals said.