Miracle child “fall in mother’s arms” birthday
Published: June 15, 2005
The family of a toddler who fell from the Humber Bridge in her mother’s arms have flown to Hull from around the world to mark the child’s second birthday – as she battles hypothermia in hospital.
The youngster, Loraine Trinity Tumalan, is in a stable condition at Hull Royal Infirmary.
On Friday, she and her mother survived a 100ft plunge from the bridge into the waters of the Humber. They were plucked from the river, clinging to one another and a life ring, by members of the Humber Rescue lifeboat. Both were minutes from death.
The child’s family have expressed their thanks to rescuers, and told how they believe her survival to be a “genuine miracle”.
Her grandmother is flying to Hull from her home in Mexico City, and her uncle – a musician – from California.
This week Loraine celebrates her second birthday.
Her mother, a 26-year-old woman from the Leeds area, is also stable in the same hospital. She suffered several fractures to her lower body.
The child’s aunt, Jacqueline Tumalan, said: “I feel extremely humbled by the efforts of the rescue team who saved the life of this precious little baby girl, and we are forever grateful to all of them. My husband, Christian Tumalan has flown to London to get to Hull as quickly as possible to be with his brother, Julio Tumalan, the baby’s father.
“I’ve been in constant phone contact with Julio, my brother-in-law but he has been at his daughter’s bedside the entire time. Baby Loraine’s grandmamma, Esthela Tumalan is also on her way to the hospital all the way from Mexico City. This has been a terrible ordeal for our family, but we are so pleased that Loraine is healing.
“Loraine celebrates her second birthday this week. What a way to bring in her second birthday. We know that she is divinely protected by God’s grace. This is a miracle and we thank you all out there who were and are involved.”
The pair were plucked from the water following a rescue operation, sparked when an empty pushchair was found on a walkway of the Humber Bridge.
The pair are only alive because of the quick reactions of emergency services and the volunteer lifeboat crew.
Rescuers have told how they found the baby screaming in her mother’s arms, and how they felt her “slipping away” as they raced against the clock to get her medical attention.
Police have appealed for witnesses and want to speak to a cyclist who was on the bridge shortly before the woman left the footpath on Friday.
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