Ballycastle tragedy: Hannah Smyth returns home from hospital after three months

Clare Smyth and her two daughters Hannah (5) and Bethany (3) were involved the tragic quad bike accident at their home in Ballycastle.

The five-year-old was riding with her mother Clare and three-year-old sister Bethany on a quad bike as they did gardening around their farm in May.

However the trio were then in a collision with a tractor just outside their front gate which claimed the life of her mum and younger sister.

Hannah was left critically ill and rushed to hospital where surgeons battled to save her life.

Prayer requests went out across Northern Ireland via social media, which were warmly received by her devoutly Christian father Ryan, with small steps to her recovery being reported soon after.

Finally today, a further update flew out across social media, which was welcomed by countless recipients across the Province.

“Amazing news- wee Hannah Smyth got home today - Give God all the praise and glory for her miraculous recovery!!” it said.

“Please pray that she and her Daddy will adjust to their new life at home after 3 months in hospital.”

The appeal also asked people to remember the driver of the tractor in their prayers.

“Thank you all so, so much for all your prayers. They really have been appreciated.”

Also today, it emerged that a fundraising effort in Hannah’s name has so far raised £60,000 for the Royal Belfast Hospital For Sick Children.

Nigel Kearney, Fundraising Manager with Helping Hands, the official charity dedicated to the hospital unit, welcomed the news that Hannah had returned home. “It is great news,” he said.

He noted that the local community have really got behind the four men who ran the fundraising drive.

Three paramedics who had been on the scene of the accident, together with the family’s clergyman Rev John Stanbridge, held a recent 24 hour walk around Ballycastle in Hannah’s name.

At her father’s request the money is going to the hospital unit which nursed his daughter back to health.

Mr Kearney said that money had come in from across Northern Ireland, but also from much further afield.

A friend of Rev Stanbridge’s raised £2,500 in Afghanistan, he said.

“Rev Ivan Linton simulated a climb to the top of the country’s highest mountain by climbing his fire escape 400 times,” he said.

In total some 1,400 people made donations online, he added.

Ballycastle tragedy: Little Hannah Smyth begins recovery after tractor accident, father ‘astounded’ by love and support received from across the churches

24 hour walk to raise funds for unit that helped save Ballycastle girl’s life after tragic quad accident

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