An Irish woman who suffered serious injuries in Dubai after falling two storeys from a yacht while attending a friend’s birthday party is to be released from hospital.
Natasha ‘Tasha’ Keane, who is in her early 20s, was rushed to hospital in Dubai after the incident a week ago with a “severe head injury and lacerations to her liver”.
Ms Keane, who is originally from Carlow, has been living and working in the United Arab Emirates for the past year.
According to her sister, Róisín, Natasha had no shoes on when she lost her balance and fell backwards into the water head first and was concussed.
A lifeguard who witnessed the incident jumped into the sea to save her from drowning.
Róisín revealed that her younger sister is “finally on the mend” in a Facebook post.
She explained: “Tasha is finally on the mend, thanks to the help of you all. She is getting stronger everyday, although a long road of recovery still lies ahead of her. The hospital is planning her release as she has reacted well to the treatment given.”
Róisín added that it will take between two and four months for the lacerations on her liver to heal completely, with weekly follow-up appointments at the hospital that she is currently in.
“She has sent her regards to everyone and can’t thank you all enough for helping her. I would like to (say) a massive thank you to each and every person who has kindly donated, spread awareness and sent their well wishes to Tasha and our family.
“Once again our family cannot thank you enough for the support the past week since Tasha’s accident. We appreciate it so much,” continued Róisín.
The GoFundMe page has now been closed as the €20,000 target has been reached.
Speaking on Carlow radio station KCLR96FM last week, Róisín said: “You hear of these freak accidents happening, but you never think it’s going to happen to anyone you know, never mind your younger sister. She’s in hospital now and unable to move.
“A guy called Benjamin was lucky enough to dive in and save her, he was the lifeguard. Three other people had to help her get on to the deck. They thought she was dead, it was like a murder scene and there was blood everywhere.”
Róisín said that her younger sister had to get 14 stitches in her head and that she lost a lot of blood from the impact of the water.
