A fundraiser has been launched to support a mother-of-two from Dublin who is in a critical condition in hospital after collapsing and hitting her head while on a family holiday.
Emma Hickey, from Kilbarrack in Dublin 5, recently travelled with her husband Stephen and their two children to Tenerife to enjoy "a well-deserved family holiday and break from the day-to-day", the Irish Mirror reports.
However, soon after arriving, the dream trip abroad "turned into every family’s worst nightmare" when Emma suffered a serious head injury which has left her in a coma in hospital.
According to Emma's friends, the mum-of-two was bitten by a mosquito "which lead to a worsening infection", causing her to collapse and hit her head on a tiled pavement on Sunday.
Emma sustained a serious head injury in the fall and was rushed to hospital, where she remains in an induced coma.
She faces a "long, uncertain, and incredibly challenging" recovery, and her friends have launched a GoFundMe page to help support the family.
Emma's friend Karen Whelan wrote on the GoFundMe page: "Our beautiful Emma is critically ill in Tenerife. What was meant to be a well-deserved family holiday and break from the day-to-day, has turned into every family’s worse nightmare.
She continued: "The fall resulted in a serious head injury and she remains in an induced coma. The medical team have confirmed that her recovery will be long, uncertain, and incredibly challenging.
"We, Emma’s family and friends would ask for your help to support Emma’s partner Stephen who is self employed, and their kids Sophie and Bobby, as they stay by Emma’s side in Tenerife to provide some relief in the day to day expenses so they can focus on the long road of recovery in front of them.
"Anything you can contribute will make a difference. Even sharing the page and keeping Emma in your thoughts will help the family at this time."
The GoFundMe page has raised almost €50,000, with Dublin football club Ayrfield United FC, where Emma's husband Stephen is first team coach, urging locals to support the fundraiser.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Emma Hickey as she endures a very difficult time after a bad fall in Tenerife on Sunday," they wrote in a message shared on social media.
"Emma is the partner of Stephen Brougham, our First Team Coach. Emma's friends have set up a Go Fund Me to help with costs for the family during this difficult time. If anyone is in a position to help Emma, Steo, Sophie and Bobby, please donate via the link below. Any help is greatly appreciated."
