'She was both wild and pure': Ciara Mageean's Costa Rica adventure

The producer of RTÉ’s Uncharted recalls the athlete’s courage, kindness and determination during a remarkable journey in Costa Rica

Jamie D'Alton with Ciara Mageean in Costa Rica

‘The three of us walked out the door, stunned into disbelief. Máire [her sister] grabbed me in a hug and all three of us were in tears. ‘Right, well, if I’m going to die, I’m going on that adventure with RTÉ,’ I quipped.

I wasn’t joking. The producer Jamie had come to Belfast to talk to me [a few months earlier] to discuss if it might yet be viable. He was happy to hold a slot for me until as late as possible. The realisation that my treatment was set to end, with little prospect of changing my survival rate, immediately made my mind up.’