Berkeley victim wakes up from coma

Aoife Beary, one of the survivors of the Berkeley balcony collapse, has woken from her coma and is no longer in a critical condition.

The student, from Blackrock, Co Dublin, had been celebrating her birthday in San Francisco last month when the balcony they were standing on gave way, killing six of her friends and injuring six others.

Those who lost their lives were Niccolai Schuster, Eoghan Culligan, Ashley Donohoe, Olivia Burke, Ashley Donohoe and Lorcan Miller.

According to a statement released by Aoife Beary’s family on their Facebook page ‘Friends of Aoife Beary’, the 21-year-old has started to communicate with those around her.

“Aoife is still in the ICU but is no longer on the critical list. She has slowly started to awaken from the induced coma. This process is expected to take some time,” they said.

“Aoife has also started some communication with her parents and the medical team. She has had a tracheotomy within the last week and continues to make progress on her long road to recovery.”

Her parents, Michael and Angela, are by Aoife’s bedside at the Stanford Medical Centre in Palo Alto, California.

It is understood her brother Tim and her sister Anna will be joining them shortly.

The majority of the other survivors are either slowly recovering in hospital or have already been discharged.

Sean Fahey was the first to be discharged and has returned to Ireland. Conor Flynn has also been discharged but is unable to fly home due to a punctured lung.

Niall Murray and Jack Halpin are still receiving treatment in hospitals in San Francisco while Hannah Waters and Clodagh Cogley are both undergoing rehabilitation for their injuries.

An online fund has been set up to help the victims and their families. So far, more than €234k has been raised.

To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/j1tragedyfund