Nora survived on blueberries and water

A DIET of blueberries and water from a stream helped 80-year-old Nora Mary King survive away from home for three days, her daughter said yesterday.

“It’s a miracle she is still alive and we’re ecstatic and thrilled,” said Kate Harrison, as her mother recovered from the ordeal.

“I believe eating blueberries and drinking water helped her survive her three-day ordeal. We used to pick the berries when we were small,” she said.

Mrs King, from Rathcahill, Mongea, near Newcastle West, was reported missing on Thursday evening. More than 600 local people, gardaí, civil defence and mountain rescue teams, backed up by the Shannon coastguard helicopter and sniffer dogs, searched a two-mile area rugged countryside for the mother-of-seven. On Sunday evening, Mrs King, who suffers from memory loss, turned up safe at the home of John Joe Sexton, Glenshesk, Templeglantine, about 3.5 miles from her home.

The 80-year-old thought she was “only gone for two hours”.

There searchers were jubilant, as the “great news” filtered through that Mrs King was safe. “It was like winning a county final,” said nephew, Liam Herlihy.

Yesterday, Mrs King was with her children, Pat, John, Brian, Bill from the Philippines, Maureen from Britain, Betty from Galway and Kate from Dublin. “Super Gran, as we’ll call her, is in great form. She had her breakfast and was talking about the Leaving Cert results,” said Ms Harrison. “I have to put my hand on my heart and say it’s a miracle she is still alive. She is a very religious lady who does not see bad in anybody,” she said.

Her mother wanted to know why so many people were looking for her.

“I told her we did not know where she was. She thought she was with her cousin in Rathkeale, who is 90 years old. She wanted to know why there was so much fuss,” said Ms Harrison.

The King family was full of praise for the hundreds of volunteers, gardaí and civil defence. “Monagea should be proud of its people,” she said.

“The support was brilliant and we are ever so grateful for everything they did. “Sunday was very low, as her glasses were found on the hillside and we feared for the worst. But, as soon as the news came through that she was found alive and well, the scenes of joy were electric all over the place. Everyone was overjoyed,” said Ms Harrison.