You can’t beat the generosity of Cork people.

A Charleville family have been flooded with donations to help them fly their mum from Alicante to Cork by air ambulance after she suffered a medical emergency in Spain.

This morning on The Opinion Line with PJ Coogan on Cork’s 96FM, listeners heard an emotional and heartfelt conversation with Charleville man Jack Callaghan, whose mother Carol (58) is fighting to recover in a Spanish hospital after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while on holiday.

Jack shared the family’s urgent mission to get Carol home to Ireland for specialist rehabilitation — a journey that requires an air ambulance costing between €40,000 and €50,000, a sum their insurance will not cover.

“When we first arrived, we were told she might not make it and if she did, she could be left with severe brain damage.” Jack explained.

“Now she’s improving day by day, but she needs to come home to give her the best chance,”

‘She has the biggest heart’

Carol cannot fly without intensive medical care during the journey. “We’ve been quoted €40,000 to €50,000 for an air ambulance. These companies need payment up front, and we just don’t have that lying around.”

In the meantime, Jack, his stepfather, and sister are taking turns staying in Spain. “If it was one of us in that bed, Mam would go through stone walls for us. She has the biggest heart, we just need her home.” he added.

The family has launched a GoFundMe Help Bring Carol Home After a Devastating Accident which has already seen an outpouring of donations totalling over €40,000, including from Charleville GAA Club.

“People have been amazing, but we still have a bit to go before we can book the flight.”

Jack also used the opportunity to urge everyone to learn basic CPR. “Every minute counts. It could mean the difference between life and death. We were lucky Mam was in a busy place — but if it had happened somewhere quiet, she might not be here.” he said.