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The young victim of a tragic accident that claimed the life of her mother and sister is taking “small but significant steps” toward recovery, a local church minister said.
Hannah Smyth (5), was seriously injured in a collision between a tractor and a quad in Ballycastle, Co Antrim earlier this week. She was flown to the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast after the incident on Whitepark Road, in which her sister Bethany (3) and mother Clare (35) died on Tuesday.
Reverend John Stanbridge of Ballycastle and Croaghmore Presbyterian Church said Hannah’s recovery was moving in the right direction.
“I am pleased to report that while these are very, very early days, Hannah is taking small but significant steps in the right direction, which is good news,” she said.
The Reverend Stanbridge said the family had been amazed at all the support they received and that the girls’ father, Ryan, asked them to thank him on his behalf.
“The family has been amazed by the love and support they have received from so many different sectors and the richness of prayer in all the Christian churches that are being prayed for, for which they are very grateful,” he said.
“Ryan has asked me to encourage people to keep praying and I thank the farming community at large for coming together in different ways to support them right now.
“The family is also painfully aware that not only their family has been affected by this tragic and strange accident. They have asked people to pray for everyone involved. “
In a previous statement, the Rev. Stanbridge said: “Ryan, Clare, Hannah and Bethany are very dear members of our church.
“What happened on Tuesday was a tragic and strange accident that changed a family forever.
“In making this statement, I have spoken to Ryan, who is at his daughter Hannah’s bedside at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast, and would like to express his appreciation for everyone’s prayers, especially those in Ballycastle, and He asks that people continue to pray for little Hannah.
“He has also asked me to express his deep appreciation and thanks to all the emergency services that attended the scene, the doctors and nurses at Causeway Hospital, and the surgical team at Royal, where Hannah is now.”
Mr. and Mrs. Smyth were married for 15 years.
The Reverend Stanbridge said that Ms. Smyth had been a “very dear and esteemed” leader and officer of the Dunluce Presbyterian Girls Brigade for the past 15 years.
“We will miss her very much for all the girls and leaders,” she added.
“As a church family, we are mourning the passing of Clare and Bethany, but our determination in Christ Jesus is to keep Ryan, Hannah and the wider family circle in our prayers and assure them of our love and support in the days and months. difficult that await us. ” – PA
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