Herald AM worker left paralysed by hit-and-run
Aline Baros before her accident.
Wednesday August 06 2008
A young Brazilian woman is paralysed from the waist down after being hit by a truck while cycling to work in Dublin.
Aline Baros (26) has been in hospital since the accident happened three weeks ago. The student left her studies in Brazil to improve her English in Ireland when the accident occurred.
Aline has been grappling with the difficult news that she will never walk again while being supported by friends and colleagues from Herald AM.
"Her situation is very delicate. She is permanently paralysed from the waist down and will require extensive rehabilitation," said a close friend.
"It's been a very difficult time for her -- being away from home in a situation like that makes things even worse."
Aline's mother is believed to be too ill to travel from Brazil to her daughter's bedside in the Mater Hospital.
Aline had planned to travel home at the end of July and then bring her mother to visit Ireland. But the collision has left Aline confined to hospital for an unknown length of time.
Aline's friends have committed to acting as the young woman's family as she battles with this illness and receives treatment for spinal injuries.
"What we are trying to do is everything possible to try to help her somehow," said her friend. "We have raised money to pay her rent.
"She's going through a very difficult time," said her friend, who said her colleagues and the Brazilian community are eager to assist her. "She is someone who has a lot of faith and she will get through it."
Aline was travelling to work at 6.50am on July 23 in the city centre when she was knocked from her bike. The incident happened at the junction of Kevin Street Lower and Patrick Street.
Located
It is believed that gardai have since located the truck driver involved in the incident. There have been no arrests.
Her friends are now attempting to raise money for Aline's future care and rehabilitation in Ireland and Brazil. It is also hoped that the money can help get her family members over to Ireland to aid her recovery.
If you wish to make a donation, you can do so by lodging money in an AIB bank account Branch Code 93 32 95, account number 07636182.
- Sarah Neville
