A fundraiser launched to help support the family a young mum from Co Down who tragically suffered a “catastrophic” injury following a devastating collision in Dublin has seen an outpouring of support from far and wide.
Danielle O’Keane, aged 37, sustained a “life ending brain injury” after a horrific crash on North Wall Quay, Dublin at around 11pm on Saturday night. Brave Danielle was rushed to Mater Misericordiae University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries and is currently in ICU on a ventilator.
On the night of the tragic crash, Danielle, from Newry, Co Down, had headed to see Westlife at the 3Arena with some of her friends, enjoying the reunion show with thousands of others in what was meant to be a joyous occasion.
Danielle’s family are heartbroken following the crash(Image: GoFundMe)
But the young mum’s life was turned upside down when what should have been a short rickshaw ride to the city centre to meet her husband and some friends turned into a horrific nightmare.
Derek, Danielle’s loving brother-in-law, told the Irish Mirror: “It’s tragic. They went to the concert and they were leaving. My brother David (Danielle’s husband) was actually in the city centre with a couple of his friends… They were leaving to head up into the city centre to meet up with David.
“They got into a rickshaw. And it was only due to be a short journey up into the city centre. But I was talking to one of the girls that accompanied Danielle, and she was saying she was only on the rickshaw for a matter of seconds before it hit the curb and toppled over.
“And horrifically resulting in a catastrophic brain injury.”
The scene of the collision on North Wall Quay in Dublin(Image: Collins Photo Agency)
Sadly, Derek said beloved Danielle suffered a “life-ending brain injury” in the crash and her family are now facing the heartbreaking moment her ventilator will be turned off.
“The doctor sat us down and spoke to us, and he actually revealed that she’s actually facing a life-ending brain injury,” Derek explained.
“At the moment we’re waiting for them, they’re going through the process of confirming this. They do what’s called a brainstem test, and this brainstem test verifies what they suspect from the MRI scan, CT scans. It’s basically the step before they decide to remove all aids and the ventilator.
“So there is nothing they can do. There’s no surgical intervention or nothing they can do to help. It’s just the process of waiting for them to officially turn off the machine. It’s heartbreaking.”
Danielle was due to travel to Mallorca next Monday on her first family holiday with her two young boys and husband, a holiday that will now sadly not come to pass. Derek told how Danielle had a “heart of gold” and was “full of life” with “so much to look forward to”.
“She was the most sweetest girl you’d ever meet in your life, full of life, full of energy, heart of gold,” Derek shared.
The scene of the serious road traffic collision on North Wall Quay in Dublin(Image: Collins Photo Agency)
“And a young family, Danielle was only 37. The two young boys… five and two years of age, they were all looking forward to their first family holiday.
“They were actually due to travel away to Mallorca on the fifth of October. The bags were packed and everything… They were a young family with the world at their feet. So much to look forward to. Being deprived of so many opportunities in life together as a family.”
A fundraiser launched to help Danielle’s family with bills, or in any way possible, has seen massive support from far and wide. Since being launched €26,684 has been raised of the €40,100 target. To donate click here.
Derek praised the work of the nurses and gardaí who have helped support their family during this difficult time, and have gone “above and beyond” for Danielle and her heartbroken family.
He shared: “I have to say with the staff up here in the hospital, and even the reaction from the members of the gardaí that were up here.
Danielle suffered a “life ending brain injury” following the crash(Image: GoFundMe)
“Because it’s still kind of like an active investigation in regards to how the incident happened, because we are dealing with a life ending issue here.
“The gardaí are being fantastic. The staff, the nurses up here. I mean, I just heard on the radio there that non-essential staff are kind of working to rule because of their paying conditions.
“What we’re witnessing up here firsthand what they’re doing, they’re all going above and beyond in how they’re dealing, not just with Dave and Danielle, but all the family members that are up here – they just couldn’t do enough for you. It’s fantastic.”
Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward.
A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Mirror: “Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and were travelling in the vicinity of North Wall Quay on Saturday, 26 September between 10:30pm and 11:15pm, are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Store Street Garda Station on 01 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
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