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Sunday World
3 days ago
- Health
- Sunday World
Family make urgent plea to get Irish mum who suffered a cardiac arrest in Spain back home
'It's a slow process, but getting better — and can get a lot better if we can get her back to Ireland as well.' Carol is fighting to recover in a Spanish hospital after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while on holiday. 'Mam would go through stone walls for us. Now we're asking people to help us do the same for her,' said a Cork man who is determined to bring his mother back home after suffering a life changing accident in Spain. Charleville native Jack Callaghan made the emotional appeal for his mother during an interview on The Opinion Line with PJ Coogan on Cork's 96FM yesterday. Mr Callaghan spoke about his mother Carol who is currently fighting to recover in a Spanish hospital after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while on holiday. Jack also spoke about the family's urgent mission to get Carol home to Ireland for specialist rehabilitation — a journey that requires an air ambulance costing between €40,000 and €50,000, a sum their insurance will not cover. Carol is fighting to recover in a Spanish hospital after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while on holiday. News in 90 Seconds - August 16th In a poignant interview, Mr Callaghan said his 58-year-old mother Carol was out shopping with her friends in Alicante, Spain and suffered a cardiac arrest. 'She was left untreated until the paramedics got there. They did CPR and brought her back with the defibrillator, then rushed her to ICU. She's been there since. It's a slow process, but getting better — and can get a lot better if we can get her back to Ireland as well.' Jack said his mother woke up after a 'week' in a coma and has been slowly improving ever since. 'When we first got to Spain — this happened on a Thursday and we arrived Friday morning — doctors told us she might not make it. If she did, she could be in a vegetative state or have severe brain damage. They told us to get family over as soon as possible. As days went on, the scans improved. 'The outlook was still serious, but we didn't care how long the road would be — as long as there was a road. She woke up after a week in a coma and has been slowly improving since. My stepfather, my sister and I take turns so she's never alone. It's tough out there, but she'd do the same for us. She has the biggest heart, we just need her home,' he added. The extent of Carol's injuries means she will require long-term rehabilitation and specialist care. Unfortunately, her travel insurance has refused to cover the cost of getting her home to Ireland for the treatment she urgently needs. 'The hospital in Spain has done all it can,' said Jack who outlined that his mother cannot fly home without intensive medical care during the journey. 'She still has a tracheostomy and needs intensive care during the journey. She needs an intensive rehab centre in Ireland. We've been quoted €40,000 to €50,000 for an air ambulance. These companies need payment up front, and we just don't have that lying around.' The family has launched a GoFundMe page to help bring Carol home after the devastating accident. The local community has rallied around in huge support of Carol and her family. At the time of writing, 863 donations have been made and over €48,000 has been raised so far. Jack paid tribute to everyone who has contributed. 'The local community's been incredible. Charleville GAA, neighbours, friends, but we still have a bit to go before we can book the flight.' Jack also used the opportunity to urge everyone to learn basic CPR. 'Every minute counts. It could mean the difference between life and death. We were lucky Mam was in a busy place. If it had happened somewhere quiet, she might not be here.'
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Urgent mission to get Cork mother who suffered a cardiac arrest in Spain home for specialist rehabilitation
Charleville native Jack Callaghan made the emotional appeal for his mother during an interview on The Opinion Line with PJ Coogan on Cork's 96FM yesterday. Mr Callaghan spoke about his mother Carol who is currently fighting to recover in a Spanish hospital after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while on holiday. Jack also spoke about the family's urgent mission to get Carol home to Ireland for specialist rehabilitation — a journey that requires an air ambulance costing between €40,000 and €50,000, a sum their insurance will not cover. In a poignant interview, Mr Callaghan said his 58-year-old mother Carol was out shopping with her friends in Alicante, Spain and suffered a cardiac arrest. 'She was left untreated until the paramedics got there. They did CPR and brought her back with the defibrillator, then rushed her to ICU. She's been there since. It's a slow process, but getting better — and can get a lot better if we can get her back to Ireland as well.' Jack said his mother woke up after a 'week' in a coma and has been slowly improving ever since. 'When we first got to Spain — this happened on a Thursday and we arrived Friday morning — doctors told us she might not make it. If she did, she could be in a vegetative state or have severe brain damage. They told us to get family over as soon as possible. As days went on, the scans improved. 'The outlook was still serious, but we didn't care how long the road would be — as long as there was a road. She woke up after a week in a coma and has been slowly improving since. My stepfather, my sister and I take turns so she's never alone. It's tough out there, but she'd do the same for us. She has the biggest heart, we just need her home,' he added. The extent of Carol's injuries means she will require long-term rehabilitation and specialist care. Unfortunately, her travel insurance has refused to cover the cost of getting her home to Ireland for the treatment she urgently needs. 'The hospital in Spain has done all it can,' said Jack who outlined that his mother cannot fly home without intensive medical care during the journey. 'She still has a tracheostomy and needs intensive care during the journey. She needs an intensive rehab centre in Ireland. We've been quoted €40,000 to €50,000 for an air ambulance. These companies need payment up front, and we just don't have that lying around.' The family has launched a GoFundMe page to help bring Carol home after the devastating accident. ADVERTISEMENT The local community has rallied around in huge support of Carol and her family. At the time of writing, 863 donations have been made and over €48,000 has been raised so far. Jack paid tribute to everyone who has contributed. 'The local community's been incredible. Charleville GAA, neighbours, friends, but we still have a bit to go before we can book the flight.' Jack also used the opportunity to urge everyone to learn basic CPR. 'Every minute counts. It could mean the difference between life and death. We were lucky Mam was in a busy place. If it had happened somewhere quiet, she might not be here.'
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Irish mum hospitalised after collapsing while shopping on Spain holiday as family issue emotional ‘need her home' plea
The family have explained why they're trying to raise €50,000 SON'S PLEA Irish mum hospitalised after collapsing while shopping on Spain holiday as family issue emotional 'need her home' plea A YOUNG man whose mother is recovering from a heart attack in a Spanish hospital is appealing for help to bring her home. Jack Callaghan said his family are on an urgent mission to get his mother Carol flown home to Ireland for specialist rehabilitation. 4 A son has issued an urgent plea for his mum who suffered a heart attack in Spain Credit: GoFundMe 4 A fundraiser has been launched to get Carol back to Ireland Credit: GoFundMe He said the 58-year-old's journey requires an air ambulance which will cost more than €50,000, a sum their insurance will not cover. So far the GoFundMe, Help Bring Carol Home after a Devastating Accident, has managed to raise €50,000 of the €55,000 target. Carol, who is from Charleville in Cork, was out shopping with friends in Alicante, Spain, when she collapsed. Paramedics performed CPR and used a defibrillator to save her life and she spent a week in a coma before beginning a slow but steady recovery. Speaking on The Opinion Line with PJ Coogan on Cork's 96FM, Jack said they are hoping to get her home soon. He said: 'She was out shopping in Alicante with friends and she had a cardiac arrest. 'She was left untreated for a certain amount of time until paramedics got there. "Then when paramedics got to her they were able to perform CPR on her and luckily enough they were able to bring her back with the defibrillator. 'From there she was rushed onto the hospital. She was taken to ICU and has been there since. 'When we first arrived, we were told she might not make it and if she did, because of the length of time that went without air getting to the brain that she could be left in a vegetative state if she woke up. 'That she could have severe brain damage that she might not be able to recover from." He added: 'Now she's improving day by day, but she needs to come home to give her the best chance.' But Jack said his mother cannot fly without intensive medical care during the journey, explaining: 'We've been quoted €40,000 to €50,000 for an air ambulance. 'These companies need payment up front, and we just don't have that lying around.' He said in the meantime the family including himself, his stepdad and sister are taking turns staying in Spain. FUNDRAISER Jack continued: 'If it was one of us in that bed, mam would go through stone walls for us. "She has the biggest heart, we just need her home.' The family have launched a GoFundMe called 'Help Bring Carol Home after a Devastating Accident' which has already seen an outpouring of donations, including from Charleville GAA Club. Jack said the local community has been incredibly supportive, he added: 'People have been amazing, but we still have a bit to go before we can book the flight.' And while appealing for donations to help get Carol home to Ireland, Jack also used the opportunity to urge everyone to learn basic CPR. He stressed: 'Every minute counts. It could mean the difference between life and death. 'We were lucky that mam was in a busy place but if it had happened somewhere quiet, she might not be here.' If you would like to make a donation you can do so at GoFundMe. 4 Carol's journey requires an air ambulance Credit: GoFundMe
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish mum suffers 'life changing accident' in Spain as family face tough task
More than €50,000 has been raised to bring an Irish woman who suffered a "life-changing accident" while away on holiday back home to Cork to receive "urgent" treatment. Carol Callaghan, 58, from Charleville, was out shopping with friends while holidaying in Alicante in Spain when she collapsed from a sudden cardiac arrest. Carol was rushed to hospital and her family was told she might not survive. Against the odds, the 58-year-old Cork native pulled through, but she remains in intensive care. Doctors said that since Carol was left without air for a prolonged period of time there was a possibility she could be in a vegetative state when she woke up, or she could even have severe brain damage that she'd never be able to recover from. Thankfully, Carol's condition began to slowly improve and after spending a week in hospital she woke up from her coma. Carol with son Jack Callaghan Carol's son Jack and her daughter and husband have been by her side in hospital since the accident and last week they were told that doctors there have done all they can for her, and that she needs to return to Ireland to receive treatment at an intensive rehab centre to give her every possibility of recovery. However, Carol is unable to return to Ireland without an air ambulance and specialist medical support, with her insurance refusing to cover the costs. Carol's son Jack called into The Opinion Line with PJ Coogan on Cork's 96FM on Friday morning to share his family's story as they launch a fundraising drive in a bid to raise money to bring Carol home. "She still has a tracheostomy in so it would be intensive care she'd need throughout the flight and for the journey either side of the hospital," Jack revealed. When asked how much it would cost to bring Carol home by air ambulance, Jack said: "I've got in contact with a couple of different repatriation companies and you're looking at between €40 to €50,000 to get her home . "To be honest, we haven't even thought past that at the minute. We don't know what the further costs are down the lane, but the main thing at the minute is getting her home. "She'll be in intensive care until she can get the tracheostomy out and once the tracheostomy is out she needs intensive rehab. "Time is of the essence now because it's been a couple of weeks of humming and hawing with the insurance thinking that we were going to get it and [then] not. "The doctors have told us the sooner she can get her intensive rehab started, the better chance she has of getting back to a full recovery, so it's kind of a big rush." Carol with her two children Jack and the family have since set up a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising enough money to bring Carol home, with more than €51,700 raised within 16 hours of the page being set up. A message shared on the GoFundMe page states: "As some of you may know, our beloved Carol was recently on holiday in Alicante, Spain, with friends when she suffered a life-changing accident while out shopping. "Carol is currently still in hospital in Spain, and the extent of her injuries means she will require long-term rehabilitation and specialist care. Unfortunately, her travel insurance has refused to cover the cost of getting her home to Ireland for the treatment she urgently needs. "To bring Carol back safely, she must be flown home by an air ambulance with a medical team — a cost that is well beyond what our family can manage alone. "We're reaching out for help. Every donation, no matter how small, will go directly towards: • The cost of the medical flight to bring Carol home • Her rehabilitation and recovery • Any ongoing care and support she will need on this journey "Carol and our family face an incredibly tough road ahead, but being back home in Ireland, surrounded by loved ones, is the first step in giving her the best chance at recovery." Jack said the "the support has been absolutely immense". "Mam has a lot to fight for, and she's fighting over there for us," he added. "She's recovering and focusing on herself, which is what we need her to do. "This is why we're setting [the GoFundMe page] up for her. We're trying to get everything in place so that she can make the best recovery that she needs. "She has the biggest heart, and I know I'm a bit biased because I'm her son, but you could ask anyone around that knows her, she has the biggest heart, and we just need her home." Anyone interested in making a donation to the fundraiser can visit the GoFundMe page here. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Daily Record
Upskirter 'took his own life in B&B' after CCTV of incident released by cops
Investigators have closed the case after identifying the man caught on CCTV following a young woman. A man identified by police as being involved in an 'upskirting' incident has taken his own life after CCTV images were released in an appeal for information. Cops are understood to have identified the suspect involved in the incident, which took place eight months ago when security cameras captured footage of a man following a young woman in the MacCurtain Street in Cork, Ireland before using his phone in an attempt to take a photo up the victim's skirt. The incident occurred at around 8.55 pm on Wednesday, September 11 last year and Gardaí received very few tips or information, and nobody came forward to identify themselves, reports Cork Beo. It's understood that within days of a widespread appeal for information in January, the man took his own life at a B&B in Cork city. Radio producer Paul Byrne told The Opinion Line with PJ Coogan on 96FM this morning that Gardaí say the man, who lived outside the city but had been working in Cork, checked into a B&B under a false name and did not show up for breakfast. When the B&B owners grew worried, they entered his room that evening where the man was discovered dead in a bathroom. Gardaí were alerted and he was identified as being the suspected upskirter and the case was closed. A Garda spokesperson told CorkBeo: "The suspect related to this investigation has been identified. Gardaí would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance. The investigation is now closed." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In January this year, Garda Greg Freegrove appeared on Crimecall in a public appeal for information on the incident. CCTV was shown of a man on Harley's Street, a pedestrianised street between MacCurtain Street and St Patrick's Quay. He said: "the suspect is seen following a young woman in the MacCurtain Street area of the city, as they get to the top of the street the man leans forward with his phone in his right hand in an apparent attempt to record an image." Garda Freegrove said that the woman - who is obscured in the footage - noticed the man with his phone and confronted him. The CCTV footage then shows him running in the opposite direction. 'Upskirting' or taking intimate images without the victim's consent has been illegal since 2021 when it was signed into law with revenge pornography legislation. Sharing, recording, distributing or publishing intimate images without the permission of the person featured in the images is an offence. The most serious offenders face up to seven years in prison.
