Woman, 88, injured while lifted onto plane
Kathleen Marsh was returning home to Southampton after spending a holiday in Tramore, Co Waterford, with her son, Phil, his wife, Fiona, and her two grandchildren who live in the seaside town.
Her son had phoned ahead to Cork Airport where she was due to board an Aer Arann flight home to ensure an ambi-lift would be provided to transfer her safely on board. He had been assured it would be available for the flight.
But when her flight was about to board, it became evident that the necessary lift was not available. Ms Marsh, who has been wheelchair-bound and in ill-health for several years, was subsequently lifted on board by two men, still in her wheelchair.
But as she was being lifted from the tarmac at the airport, she fell from her wheelchair, striking her head on the tarmac. The incident occurred in front of the aircraft and was witnessed by the woman's son and grandchild who had been observing her from a window in the departures area.
It is understood the woman's son attempted to get out onto the tarmac but was prevented from doing so. But he was subsequently allowed to travel with her in an ambulance to Cork University Hospital.
The woman has since been transferred from Cork where she was hospitalised on Monday to Waterford Regional Hospital so she can be closer to her son and his family.
A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed she was still being cared for in Waterford and said "her condition is under close observation but she is stable."
She was transferred to Waterford from Cork University Hospital earlier this week," he said.
It is understood that her condition has vastly improved from Monday but that her speech remains slurred and that she has memory loss.
When questioned on the incident, Cork Airport officials referred the matter to Servisair who in turn said it was a matter for Aer Arann.
An Aer Arann spokesperson said: "We do not comment on individual passenger cases."
He refused to confirm or deny if an ambi-lift had been requested or why the woman was being lifted in her wheelchair, rather than separate from it.
The Health and Safety Authority said its Cork office would be contacting Aer Arann to find out more about the incident and check whether it falls under its remit.
