A teenage girl has died after being hit by a wing mirror while getting off the bus on her way home from school.
Aisling Kennedy was just 13 when she was hit by the passing van in the freak accident.
The teenager was airlifted to hospital in Dublin within two hours of emergency crews arriving at the scene in April.
She suffered a devastating brain injury and had been in a coma ever since, reports the Irish Mirror.
But after a brave battle against her injuries, the secondary school student died on Tuesday night.
Aisling's mum described the moment she received "the phone call which every parent fears most" when she was told of her daughter's catastrophic injuries.
“On walking the last few yards to home, our beautiful little girl Aisling, was struck in the head by the wing mirror of a van and in the movement from one side of the road to the other her life was changed forever," she wrote on the family's GoFundMe page.
“Aisling was so fortunate to immediately receive the help of passing motorists, of our wonderful neighbours, and of the life saving paramedic and air ambulance teams which treated her at the scene.
“She was immediately airlifted to Dublin, such was the severity of her injury.”
Aisling's school confirmed this morning on Facebook that they had learned of the young girl’s death in the late hours of Tuesday night.
In a heartfelt post, they paid tribute to the vibrant and popular student and expressed their deepest condolences to her family and friends.
On Facebook, a spokesperson from Aisling’s school wrote: “This morning we remember our First Year student Aisling Kennedy.
"We learned last night that Aisling had sadly passed to her eternal reward after a very brave battle with her injuries sustained from a traffic accident before Easter.
“Aisling was a very popular and vibrant member of our First Year group. Our thoughts and prayers are with her loving family (Mam Louise, Dad Tom, her sisters Eimear and Aoife) at this difficult time.
“All staff, students and members of Board of Management of Presentation Secondary School Clonmel are deeply saddened by this news.
"We want to express our sincere sympathy to Aisling’s family and friends. She will be missed dearly by all of us. May Aisling Rest In Peace.”
Mourners have been flocking to the post to give condolences to the family, and one person wrote: “R.I.P Aisling. You fought so hard young lady. Absolutely devastating news.
“Deepest Condolences to mam Louise, dad Tom, sisters Eimear and Aoife and all your family, friends and your young school friends.
"May God carry you all through the hard days ahead and always.”
A second added: “So sad for the whole community. May Aisling rest in peace. Heartbreaking.”
