Ballycastle tragedy: Little Hannah Smyth begins recovery after tractor accident, father ‘astounded’ by love and support received from across the churches

The incident, which was described by Rev John Stanbridge, minister of Ballycastle and Croaghmore Presbyterian Church as a “tragic accident”, occurred on Tuesday when a quad bike collided with a tractor on Whitepark Road.

Clare Smyth, 35, and her two daughters, five-year-old Hannah and three-year-old Bethany, were travelling on the quad bike when the collision occurred.

Clare and youngest daughter Bethany both died at the scene of the accident but Hannah was airlifted to hospital where she underwent hours of life-saving surgery.

Husband and father, Ryan Smyth, has remained at Hannah’s bedside ever since.

Rev Stanbridge visited Mr Smyth at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast yesterday.

“I am pleased to report, that while these are very, very early days, Hannah is making small but significant steps in the right direction, which is good news,” he said.

“The family have been astounded by the love and support that they have received from so many different quarters and the wealth of prayer across the Christian churches that is being prayed, which they are so thankful for.

“Ryan has asked me to encourage people to continue to pray and thank the wider farming community for coming together in different ways to support them at this time.”

Rev Stanbridge continued: “The family is also painfully aware that it is not only their family who have been affected by this tragic and freak accident. They have asked that people pray for everyone involved.”

Meanwhile, people from across Northern Ireland have been expressing sympathy and prayer support for the Smyth family.

UUP councillor Joan Baird, a long-time friend of the dairy-farming family, said last night that she had been inundated with messages of sympathy for them.

“Quite a big flood of people have been in touch with me about it,” she said. “Not just locals but also a huge response from Banbridge, Lisburn and Moira.

“I used to live near Banbridge and knew quite a few rural people. They have been contacting me to say how shocked they are and asking to pass on their sympathies.”

One ‘prayer update’ text message circulating widely across NI yesterday urged continued prayer for Hannah and her wider family.

A similar message circulating from the Girls’ Brigade, in which Mrs Smyth was a leader, also called for prayer for the driver of the tractor, while countless people spoke out on social media to assure the family of their support in prayer.

No funeral details had been released last night.

The PSNI is still appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage of the accident.

Meanwhile, Garda have reported an 11-year old girl died following a farm accident in Malin, Inishowen in Co Donegal. The incident happened at 5.20pm on Wednesday.

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