A FREAK fall has left a international Limerick rower in the toughest fight of her life just hours after she won a world championship bronze medal.
Last weekend, Ailish Sheehan (23) from Kildimo, County Limerick won a bronze medal with Team GB at the FISU World University Rowing Championships, in Poznan, Poland.
Hours later, a freak fall left the Limerick rower hospitalised with serious injuries after she was placed on a life support machine while her parents John and Catherine keep a bedside vigil alongside with her sisters Aine and Niamh.
The 23-year-old was in Poland with her crew of Rebecca Edwards, Annie Withers and Gillian Cooper.
Her parents say that the prominent Limerick rower is in a critical condition and will need more tests later this week and have asked for prayers of hope for their daughter’s recovery.
A former member of St Michael’s Rowing Club and Dooneen AC, Ailish was was accepted on a athletic sports scholarship to Notre Dame in the USA having represented Ireland at international schools level in javelin.
Ailish’s pursuit of sport was very much in keeping with her father’s success in GAA.
John, who represented his home county of Cork at minor level and later went on to assist with the Limerick senior hurling team, is a Physical Education teacher with St Clements school, Limerick.
The family lived in Bruff previously before moving to Kildimo.
Friends and neighbours have described the shock as “heartbreaking” as they hope and pray for a speedy recovery.
Conor Cahill, a former schoolmate said that he was in shock at the news.
“Jesus Christ. I can’t believe that happened to her. She was my former classmate in Salesian College. A girl full of ambition, desire and adventure. Nut more importantly, as down to earth as she’d ever get!
“I am baying she’ll be OK. Thoughts go out to her and her family”.
Many similar messages and posts on social media are hoping that Ailish makes a full recovery.
