Finding healing in the sea that took my family
The unthinkable happened to Geraldine Mullan: her entire family died when their car crashed into the sea. Just weeks later, she overcame her fear to swim in that same water.
Geraldine Mullan lived with her husband John and their two children Tomás and Amelia in a town on the beautiful Irish coastline of County Donegal – a salty inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. They all loved the water, which during lockdown became a welcome escape for the whole family. But in August 2020, the car they were travelling in plunged into the sea during a dreadful storm – in a split second Geraldine lost her husband and both of her children. She tells Jo Fidgen how she found the strength to get back into the water two months after it stole the people she loved most in the world, and why she feels closer to them when she's swimming. Geraldine has opened a centre for her local community called the Mullan Hope Centre, in memory of her family.
If you've been affected by any of subjects in this programme you can find support and additional information below:
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Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: June Christie
Picture: Geraldine Mullan in the sea
Credit: David Conachy
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The Outlook Podcast Archive
True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives
