Rocca’s daughter hurt in US crash

FORMER Miss Ireland Michelle Rocca has flown to San Francisco with her ex-husband, footballer John Devine, to be at their daughter’s bedside after she was seriously injured in a car crash.

Natasha Rocca, a 19-year-old student, is reported to have suffered head injuries in a car crash in the west coast city on Saturday and remains in a serious condition in hospital.

It is not yet clear how the accident happened.

Michelle Rocca, who lives in Dublin with singer Van Morrison, is at her bedside in the intensive care unit.

The full details of the UCD student’s condition are not known, but reports suggest she regained consciousness after being admitted to hospital.

Natasha was holidaying in America with friends. Since making her debut at the UCD fashion show in March, she looks poised to follow her famous mother into the modelling world.

Michelle Rocca became Miss Ireland in 1980, when she was just 17 years old.

Natasha’s father, ex-Arsenal footballer player John Devine, is also in San Francisco with his former wife, from whom he split in 1982. The couple had a second daughter Daniella, before separating in 1985.

Yesterday, his mother Eileen Devine said the family were all praying Natasha would make a full recovery.

“We don’t know exactly what happened,” she said. “Thankfully we think she came round and was talking to people last night, which is a relief.”

“My son John caught the first flight to San Francisco on Sunday after they were told about the crash.”

Officials at Shelbourne Football Club in Dublin, where John is a youth team coach, said their thoughts were with Mr Devine and his family at this time.

“The family are good friends of this club and we were shocked to hear about the accident, but we hope for the best,” said Ollie Byrne, Shelbourne chief executive.