Nurse dies after clothes and hair go on fire
Maeve O'Shea died in Cork University Hospital after she sustained severe burns while trying to light the cigarette on a kitchen stove at 3.30am yesterday while she was staying in a house with relatives in Newmarket, Co Cork.
Ms O'Shea was examined at the scene by two local doctors and rushed to Cork University Hospital, where she died less than three hours later. She had worked in the hospital's intensive therapy unit since last September, having returned from England after a number of years nursing there.
Ms O'Shea, who was single, had been staying for Christmas with her uncle and aunt, Arthur and Kathleen O'Shea, at their home in New Street, Newmarket.
Local TD Gerard Murphy said: "Maeve's parents died within a short space of time of each other a number of years ago. She then came to Newmarket with her brothers Conor and Donagh to live with their uncle and aunt."
Staff at Cork University Hospital were stunned by the tragedy. The hospital's deputy general manager, Jerry O'Dwyer, expressed his deepest sympathy to the O'Shea family.
"She was a valued member of the nursing staff who will be sadly missed by colleagues and management," Mr O'Dwyer said.
A post mortem was carried out at the hospital yesterday afternoon.
"It was a freakish accident and the family are baffled at how it happened," said local curate, Fr Michael Corkery, yesterday. "It will take time, help and prayer for them to understand."
Garda spokesman said Ms O'Shea's death was "a terrible and tragic accident".
A private prayer service was held for her relatives last night. Funeral arrangements are expected to be finalised later today.
