‘Our hearts are broken... our lives will never be the same...’
Teen dies after tragic Spain balcony fall
Life-support machine turned off
THE mother of teenager who died after falling from a balcony while on holiday in Spain has said: ‘Our lives will never be the same. Our hearts are broken.’
Jack Walsh’s family had travelled from their home in Limerick, to the Balearic island of Majorca to say their final goodbyes.
The 19-year-old triplet’s lifesupport machine was turned off at Son Espases University Hospital on Thursday.
He had suffered catastrophic head injuries after falling almost 12metres (40ft) from a hotel balcony in the early hours of Tuesday after arriving at the resort to catch up with friends.
Just days earlier, he had sat a Leaving Certificate exam paper at Coláiste Mhuire near his family’s home in Askeaton, Co. Limerick, and was travelling to Spain to celebrate.
Yesterday, in a statement on her Facebook page, his distraught mother Sandra Walsh wrote: ‘Our lives will never be the same, the support we have received as a family has been amazing and is a true reflection of what a wonderful young man Jack turned out to be.
‘Jack ticked the donor box on his learner licence and it is a comfort knowing people are alive today as a result of Jack’s tragic accident. Thanks to everyone for all the kind words and wishes. Your support is really appreciated at this sad time. Our hearts are broken. Sandra, Tony, Jack, Tara & Orla Walsh.’
Several sources confirmed the Walsh family had made the decision to turn off his life-support machine on Thursday evening, and that all his family, including triplet sisters Tara and Orla and parents Tony and Sandra, had travelled to be with him in his final moments. The family are now preparing to make funeral arrangements and to bring home Mr Walsh’s remains.
In west Limerick, tributes have poured in from friends and workmates. Jack was working as an apprentice with a Limerick electrical sub-contracting company for the past eight months.
On Thursday, his manager Frank McGovern said everyone was ‘devastated’ after hearing news of Mr Walsh’s fall. He described the popular teen as ‘an excellent worker’ and a ‘lovely young fella’. Mr McGovern said Mr Walsh’s workmates were ‘very broken up’ about the tragedy.
Francis Sheehan, secretary of Askeaton AFC, also paid tribute, describing Mr Walsh as a ‘key player’ in their youth soccer side. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his parents, and his sisters,’ he added.
Mr Walsh’s family are well known in Limerick soccer circles. Tara and Orla Walsh have both turned out regularly for the Askeaton Ladies soccer team.
Speaking on Thursday, Norma O’Brien, Mr Walsh’s school principal at Coláiste Mhuire, said everyone had been ‘shocked’ by the tragic events in Majorca.
Ms O’Brien said the school had put in place supports for students affected by the tragedy.
Speaking on Thursday, she said: ‘We are supporting [students] in whatever way we can, through our student support teams, and our critical incident plan.’
Mr Walsh’s friends, who he joined in Majorca, are also trying to come to terms with their sudden loss. The group had flown to the island on Monday. In the days since Jack’s accident, his friends have been helping local police with their investigation, sources said. Their families have also travelled to Spain to comfort them.
The group had been due to return home yesterday.
‘All of the youngsters out there are really upset. I feel sorry for them, it’s so tragic,’ said a source.
It is the second fatal holiday balcony fall involving an Irish person in a matter of days.
Louth GAA player Conor Morgan, 20, from Dundalk was found dead at a hotel in Ayia Napa in Cyprus at around 4am on Sunday following a fall.