Berkeley tragedy: Two injured students still in critical condition

Two of the seven Irish people injured in the Berkeley balcony collapse remained in a serious condition in hospital last night.

The seven survivors have been named as Hannah Waters, Clodagh Cogley, Niall Murray, Sean Fahey, Jack Halpin, Conor Flynn and Aoife Beary. They are all aged between 20 and 22 — it is understood the group had gathered in the apartment on Monday night to celebrate Aoife Beary’s 21st birthday.

While two of the injured remained in critical condition in a local hospital, it is understood the other five are considered stable, though still suffering from broken bones and spinal injuries.

Family members of a number of the injured arrived in the US yesterday to support their loved ones.

READ MORE: New York Times apologises for Berkeley article .

Fr Brendan McBride, a chaplain in San Francisco told RTÉ news he had visited the Highland hospital where Aoife Beary and Hannah Waters were being treated and said their parents had arrived.

“We just want people to continue to pray for these girls, that they will make a full recovery,” he said.

Clodagh Cogley’s brother Daragh took to Facebook to give an update on his sister’s condition and to thank another survivor who cushioned her fall.

“Just a quick update on Clodagh, she had an operation on her spine, knee and shoulder injuries over night and is awake, somehow upbeat and doing really well,” he wrote. “Thanks to everybody for keeping her in your thoughts, can’t believe how lucky she and the rest of the survivors were and Clodagh wanted to say particular thanks to Jack Halpin for grabbing her and breaking her fall, to Dave Fox, David Willis and Conor Costelloe for keeping her company and for taking such great care of her over there.”

READ MORE: New York Times apologises for Berkeley article .