US tourist wishes to reach out to three "life-saving" Irish people after an incident in Dublin

Martha Hunt, a woman from the US on holiday in Ireland, came into more than a spot of bother whilst in Dublin.

An incident on O’Connell Street involving a bus left her bruised on the cobblestones, and in further danger if left uncared for. She wishes to thank some very helpful locals who helped her onto the nearby footpath to safety.

Martha from the Mojave Desert in California was like any tourist from the States visiting the Emerald Isle. Possessing a giddy excitement and a quintessential urge to photograph every sinew of the Forty Shades of Green, her camera and phone decided to pack in whilst visiting Clonmacnoise. Did we mention she was a tourist?

“I don't have any pictures of myself in Dublin because my camera and cell phone both died at Clonmacnoise. I was taking pictures there and watched the batteries die before my eyes. It took ten days to get a charge on my cell phone so I could at least use that for a few pictures before we left!”

One of Martha's many snaps from Clonmacnoise

Trips to Clonmacnoise and Newgrange preceded her travels to the capital. I’m sure her camera’s battery was delighted!

“I have to say that Newgrange is the most amazing place in the universe.”

Friday, 3rd June was the trip to Dublin. A bus from Kells took her and her sister into “downtown Dublin”. Ah, America.

The bus was late in arriving and a rush down O’Connell Street for a noon bus tour ensued.

America mode was still very much on Martha’s mind as her sister dashed across O’Connell Street’s hectoring midday vehicle activity.

After her sister rushed across the street, Martha followed,

“I have to admit that I somehow forgot that vehicles move on the left side of the road so when my sister dashed out into the road, I dashed behind her, looked to my left, was secure in the knowledge that the road to my left was wide open.

"At that point, I heard a honk on my right and saw a green, massive, racing bus coming down on me…

"I realized that I couldn’t reach the other side so I spun around, stepped forward, and slammed onto the cobblestone street.

"Then I saw the back wheels of the bus and knew in my mind that the tires were going to crush me. I balled up my feet and legs and that is all that I can remember except for a woman’s face in front of me asking if I was okay. I wasn’t.”

Badly bruised and dazed, she was helped to her feet and carried to the nearby footpath by two men. A woman held her bags as she attempted to gather and compose herself.

Teary-eyed and flustered, she didn’t get a chance to thank the three life-saving locals for their altruistic endeavours. That’s when she reached out to us.

“The two men held me up, the wonderful woman held my bags and handed them to me, and I struggled to get my breath. One of the men said, ‘You take care of yourself’, and through my tears I nodded.

"Then as fast as the evil bus whizzed past me, these kind, wonderful strangers were gone. I was never able to thank them for saving my life. I owe them my life and I mean that very literally.”

Martha has an affinity to Ireland. Maybe not the usual "distant digging within the family tree to find an Irish relative" affinity, but more so a lure via her sister’s trips to Ireland at least once a year from the mid-’70s onwards.

During this period, the first trip to Ireland her sister took was as an exchange student helping to excavate Newgrange but she had only returned there once since the exchange in 1975.

This time ‘round Martha’s sister asked would she accompany her to Ireland for a Newgrange trip and to check out the sites and scenes of the 1916 Commemoration. Martha duly obliged and looked forward to her third trip to our little island.

Martha's injuries from the incident

On returning home, Martha received MRI scans this past week on her injuries. They showed no breaks or fractures but severe bruising on both knees to the bone and on the right leg to the bone along with some lateral ligament damage which could take up to a year to heal.

Hopefully, with this piece, we can find the three O’Connell-Street heroes who showed sheer solidarity to come to someone’s aid when in dire need.

We wish Martha the very best in her recovery and hopefully the next trip to Ireland will leave her unscathed.