Irish woman Mary Molloy killed by falling tree in South Melbourne
Friends and loved ones of Irish nurse Mary Ellen Molloy, who was killed in South Melbourne when a tree branch hit the car she was travelling in, have raised more than $60,000 in less than 12 hours to help her devastated family.
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Friends and loved ones of a young Irish nurse tragically killed in a freak tree accident have rallied together to raise funds to help her devastated family in her homeland.
Mary Ellen Molloy, 26, died after the car she was travelling in was struck by falling gum tree branch on Kings Way on Friday night.
Her two friends and work colleagues, Sarah Fitzpatrick and Aoife Sheridan were also in the car.
It is understood Ms Fitzpatrick was injured in the incident and is set to undergo surgery.
A friend told the Herald Sun the young expat “is in a lot of pain” but her injuries aren’t life threatening.
“We expect she will make a full recovery,
“She is getting fantastic care and is undergoing surgery and we are praying that all will go well,” the friend said.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help support the young women and their families.
“The three girls work as nurses together and are close friends,” the page reads.
“We are devastated to learn that Mary Ellen Molloy has lost her life, Sarah Fitzpatrick has been injured and requires surgery and fortunately Aoife Sheridan has been unharmed.”
More than 37,000 Euros – or $60,000 AUD – have been raised in less than 12 hours.
Ms Molloy worked at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, which was Saturday night supporting her family and colleagues.
“We send our deepest sympathies to the nurse’s family and friends, who are grieving over this heartbreaking loss,’’ it said in a statement.
Ms Molloy, from the small Irish town of Ardara in Donegal county, was being remembered as a “vivacious and lively young woman”.
“She was an outgoing, bubbly person,’’ a friend told the Sunday Herald Sun.
“She wasn’t shy in any way.”
Another loved one posted online: “So sad. Just trying to make a life for herself.”
Witness Christian Pansino saw a “massive branch” fall from the tree, saying it landed “straight on the car.”
“It was real random, it wasn’t windy or anything,” he said.
Ms Molloy was heavily involved in Melbourne’s Irish community since moving to Australia and played Gaelic football.
Her close circle of friends were struggling to come to terms with what had occurred.
She wasted no time enjoying her time Down Under — travelling to popular tourists sites including the Twelve Apostles, Blue Mountains and Bondi Beach.
Ms Molloy is from a well-known sporting family.
Parents Terrence and Angela Molloy run the successful Blue Haven Country Hotel in her homeland.
They were on Saturday “numb and absolutely devastated” having been informed of their daughter’s death.
Ms Molloy’s colleague, Ms Fitzpatrick, was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with head and back injuries.
The driver, a 38-year-old man from Wallan and the front seat passenger, Ms Sheridan, were not injured.
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The horrific incident follows several tragedies due to falling trees this year. They include the deaths of a father and son at Sherbrooke, a mum on the Black Spur at Fernshaw and a University of Melbourne academic killed as she walked past Princes Park.
The Transport Department, which manages the land where the tree is, was last night working closely with police to investigate what factors contributed to the latest accident incident.
Strong winds had buffeted Melbourne following a day of extreme heat.
The local Port Phillip Council was “shocked and saddened” at what had occurred, mayor Bernadene Voss said.
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said nobody should be killed by a falling tree, and called for the government to ensure they are properly examined and maintained.
“To lose a life like this at Christmas is such a tragedy for the people involved and the families,” he said.
“It is a big job but we’ve seen trees fall down over train tracks, we’ve seen trees fall on the roads.
“If you are going to plant trees near transport corridors, the government has a responsibility to make sure they stay safe.”
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.