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These are the all-American heroes who rescued a girl of six from drowning at a beach.

Brothers Walter, 21, and twins Declan and Eoghan Butler, 18, were enjoying a day out in Portmarnock strand in North Dublin on Monday with their brother-in-law Alex Thomson, 24.

Suddenly, they heard screams from a man yelling: “Lifeguard! Lifeguard!”

The four US lads - here for their Irish grandfather’s funeral - immediately went into rescue mode, diving into the water towards a pink flamingo lilo from which the girl they believe is called Sierra had fallen.

Eoghan said: “Our initial reactions were just pure instinct- just to jump in the water and go for it.

“Me and [Declan] we had gone up to her first and [Declan] grabbed her first, and it was just us three [Eoghan, Declan, and Alex] taking turns and carrying her on our backs and then flipping her over on our stomachs, just trying to get her to shore.”

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Walter, who is serving in the United States Coast Guard as a health services technician, decided to stay back on the shore in case anyone else needed help.

He added: “Looking back there was no lifeguard, no EMS, so I headed back to shore so I would be in the best shape if need be because these guys certainly would’ve been tired by then.”

The brave men, from Virginia, kept talking to the girl during the rescue in an attempt to distract her and keep her head above water.

Walter added: “And I was watching from shore and as they headed in I noticed that they were slowing down and swam up to help.”

In an incredibly poignant coincidence, the men rescued the girl on the exact anniversary of their great uncle’s death by drowning several years ago.

When asked if they had a message for young Sierra, Eoghan said: “Well, I hear that she’s doing okay and I just hope that she stays that way. I’m glad she gets to stay here and see many more days on this earth.

“We kept talking to her and making sure she was keeping [her head] up. Asking her questions like when’s her birthday and stuff like that.”

The brothers said they would also like to meet with Sierra’s family.

Walter said: “Hopefully they’ll reach out or there’ll be a way we can communicate.

“[We’d like to] check on her and make sure there’s nothing we missed.”

Alex added: “We just wanna see if they’re doing OK.”

The father of the six-year-old girl later thanked the four men for saving his daughter’s life.

The man, who did not want to be named, also said he was shouting helplessly at Portmarnock beach for help.

He told the Irish Times: “Only for them my daughter wouldn’t be here today.

“They were so brave. They should get an award.

“My daughter was taken to hospital but she is safe and well at home now. I’d really like to thank those men.”

The little girl and her family are tonight expected to meet the four men who saved her life.