Family says thanks to mum in heroic sea rescue
Wednesday September 24 2008
THE family of a blind woman who almost drowned over the weekend have heaped praise on the heavily pregnant mother who rescued her.
Joanne Kingston (36), who is seven months pregnant, swam out to help a nurse carry Elizabeth Breen back into shore after noticing her lying face down in the water on Sunday.
Ms Breen was unconscious and not breathing during the incident at Courtown beach in Co Wexford. She was airlifted to Wexford General Hospital where she remains in a stable condition.
But less than 24 hours later, Ms Kingston, who is originally from the UK but lives in Gorey, ended up in hospital also, with doctors fearing that she was about to give birth two months prematurely.
Last night, Ms Breen's sister, Mary Muddinan, said she would never be able to thank Ms Kingston enough for her "unbelievable show of bravery".
Ms Muddinan, from Clondalkin in west Dublin, said she lived with Ms Breen, who is blind.
"Elizabeth is still in intensive care but she's recovering," she told the Irish Independent.
"I am so grateful to Joanne; it was an unbelievable thing that she did. I rang her to tell her how grateful I was. I think she's very brave, especially since she's seven months pregnant.
"I heard she has gone into hospital. We are all praying for her and the baby."
Ms Kingston's husband James (32) said medical checks on the baby had not shown up any problems. But Ms Kingston, a mother of four, will be kept in Dublin's Holles Street Hospital as a precaution until later today or tomorrow.
"Joanne's doing fine and the baby's grand, but they want to make sure she isn't going into labour before they release her," he said.
Ms Kingston became very worried about her unborn child following the rescue and said she had suffered cramps. But Mr Kingston said she felt a lot better after doctors reassured her the baby was fine.
- Stephen O'Farrell
