A tragic incident has occurred in Fortunestown, Dublin, where a seven-year-old girl, Ruby Grainger, lost her eye after being hit by battery acid from a vape on a fire. The young girl was passing by a fire on the green in her housing estate when something hit her right eye, causing severe bleeding. Ruby’s mother, Ciara Grainger, expressed her concerns about the daily fires in the area and worries that other children might also be at risk.
Ruby was rushed to Tallaght Hospital, where doctors found her eye irreparably damaged. Following emergency surgery at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, it was determined that Ruby’s eye had to be removed. Ciara expressed her shock and devastation, stating that her daughter’s life had changed in an instant, and she would give anything to spare Ruby from this ordeal.
Doctors suspect that battery acid caused the horrific injury, as the nature of the damage was unlike that of a solid object impact. Ruby is now facing the prospect of receiving a prosthetic eye and may need further surgery in the coming weeks. The family is hopeful that Ruby’s recovery will progress well and that she will not lose sight in her remaining eye.
Ciara highlighted the issues in the Fortunestown estate, where the incident occurred, describing it as plagued by vandalism and constant fires set by teenagers. She expressed her desire to relocate her family due to the unsafe environment and ongoing disturbances. Concerns about the upcoming Halloween period, along with the challenges of dealing with the aftermath of the incident, have added to the family’s distress.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Ruby and her family with the medical expenses. Ciara’s emotional account of the incident sheds light on the devastating impact it has had on their lives and underscores the urgent need for safer measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.