‘A real life miracle’

A family, whose survival of a 10-hour ordeal in the waters off Western Australia made international headlines, will receive a hero’s welcome when they next return home to Magheracloone.

On Monday, Monaghan councillors agreed to a proposal by Cathaoirleach, Cllr P.J. O’Hanlon (FF) to accord a civic reception to Joanne Appelbee and her children Austin (13), left, Beau (12) and Grace (8).

The family are trying to get back to normality this week following the dramatic sea rescue. They owe their lives to Austin (13) who swam four kilometres in difficult conditions to raise the alarm.

Amazingly, the Celt can reveal, that while Joanne was praying for a miracle, on the other side of the world, mum Doreen Cunningham got a feeling that something was wrong and lit a candle.

See this week's Anglo-Celt newspaper for more.