Latest news with #HannahSmith
Middle East Eye
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Beaten, detained, deported: How Egypt treated foreigners trying to break Gaza siege
Hundreds of international activists seeking to march to Egypt's border with Gaza with the aim of breaking Israel's siege reported being 'attacked by thugs in civilian clothes' armed with whips and 'violently' detained by Egyptian authorities at checkpoints outside of Cairo. The activists were among 4,000 people from 80 countries who were set to attend the planned Global March to Gaza last week. According to Hannah Smith, a March for Gaza spokesperson who was present at the first checkpoint, the activists had been negotiating with the authorities for hours before security forces 'ran out of patience and started to drag people onto buses'. 'Some protesters were pulled out and beaten. There was a woman who was punched in the face,' Smith said. 'It was a very intense and very sudden escalation. It was coordinated,' she said, adding that at least three people were hospitalised at the first checkpoint. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters When activists began to arrive in Cairo last Wednesday, they were met with Egyptian security forces at their hotels, who reportedly detained and questioned around 200 people. According to the initial plan, participants were set to travel by bus to the city of al-Arish in the heavily securitised Sinai Peninsula before walking 50 kilometres towards the border with Gaza. But following the crackdown, the march organisers were forced to change their plans and instead instructed activists to gather in Ismailia, a city northeast of Cairo. Smith said that on Thursday, the authorities appeared to 'soften'. 'Some protesters were pulled out and beaten. There was a woman who was punched in the face' - Hannah Smith, activist 'There weren't heavy detentions on [the] 12th,' Smith told Middle East Eye, adding that the march organisers, whose names are published on the initiative's website, were not stopped for questioning. 'It was a very different response on the 12th [of June] than it was on the 11th. So that was an encouraging sign, because we thought that it was just going to be mass detentions and deportations right at the airport as people arrived'. The activists decided to gather in Ismailia where they would await permission to proceed to Rafah from the Egyptian authorities. 'We weren't planning a demonstration, we just wanted to be able to get together and await Egyptian government approval,' Smith said. 'Screams in the dark' Sami, who used a pseudonym for fear of reprisals, told MEE that she reached the first checkpoint around 8pm to find riot police encircling some 200 people who were staging a peaceful sit-in. She reported that masked men clad in traditional Bedouin dress descended on the crowd and attacked them with a 'device that looked like a whip'. At one point, the street lamps cut out, plunging the scene into darkness. 'We would occasionally hear screams in the dark. They were clearly using the cover of darkness to attack,' Sami said. Hungarian activist Komaromy Gergely said he was held at a checkpoint along with 'hundreds and hundreds' of other march participants. 'In the evening, the authorities tried to disperse us,' he told MEE in a video interview. He said they were peacefully sitting and chanting when 'dozens of violent thugs in civilian clothes started to attack us'. They were then encircled by riot police, with some activists 'violently' forced onto buses. He said that one activist was so severely beaten, 'he very likely had some broken ribs'. Gergely said that when he eventually complied and made his way towards the bus, he was assaulted by thugs and police, who then forced him into a police van along with 14 others. He said they all had their passports and phones confiscated. Egypt slammed for its treatment of foreign nationals doing Global March for Gaza Read More » According to Gergely, one of the activists was immediately released as he was a US citizen, while the remaining people were 'taken to a faraway police station where we spent the night'. The following morning, they were taken to Cairo airport and deported. According to Smith, over 500 people were detained. Reem, another activist who wished to use a pseudonym, reported that European embassies were slow to react to the situation. 'Before the violence broke out we didn't really know what they were doing with our passports,' Reem told MEE. 'Swiss people contacted their embassy, and they said, 'What were you expecting? There is nothing we can do about it,'' she said. 'I think many embassies were saying the same thing - it's basically your fault. Because many people were calling them and asking them to do something, they felt pressured, but I feel it's a shame they were not proactive from the start'. 'It wasn't all for nothing' Egypt's foreign ministry issued a statement on Thursday instructing the organisers to apply for permission for the action and coordinate closely with embassies, citing security concerns in Sinai. But the march organisers previously told MEE that they had repeatedly contacted the authorities about the action and reported that the embassies were 'very encouraging' and 'endorsed the march'. 'Everything we did was in accordance with Egyptian laws,' Smith said. 'We were still waiting for permission, we gave no indication that we were going to al-Arish and start marching without permission'. The organisers are currently trying to get participants out of detention and instructing activists to change their flights. Meanwhile, a parallel initiative, the 'Sumud' land convoy, which set off from the Tunisian capital on 9 June carrying thousands of activists from Tunisia, Algeria, Algeria and Morocco was barred from entering the Libyan city of Sirte. North African convoy for Gaza reports mistreatment in eastern Libya by Haftar forces Read More » In a statement, organisers said eastern Libyan authorities prevented food, water and medical supplies from reaching approximately 1,500 participants, and reported that at least 13 people are still being detained. Wael Nawar, the spokesperson for a support caravan organised by Libyan citizens in solidarity, said on Facebook on Saturday that he had been kidnapped, violently assaulted and robbed of his money by authorities allied to military commander General Khalifa Haftar. Despite the march not getting off the ground, Smith says their efforts were not wasted. 'We have a network of 4,000 people who are willing to drop everything to support Palestine,' Smith said. 'This connection that we've made in the last few days…it wasn't all for nothing'. 'I don't want to sit here 10 years from now and wonder if we did explore all options to stop the Palestinian genocide,' she said.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
22-Year-Old Woman Tragically Loses Legs Following Freak Accident In The Bahamas
A young woman celebrating her summa cum laude college graduation experienced a traumatic freak accident in The Bahamas that resulted in her legs being severed. When the boating incident occurred on May 12, Hannah Smith, 22, was allegedly on the first day of her trip. According to the Daily Mail, she and a friend, Brooklyn Pitre, were on a celebratory Carnival Sunrise cruise after graduating. The two were returning to the ship via a pontoon ferry after doing off-ship excursions. As the small boat docked around 3:55 p.m. at Nassau Cruise Port, Hannah found herself in the water. The ferry's propellers reportedly dragged the young woman under the water, then partially severed her legs and surrounded her in blood. Two of the boat's female passengers were able to pull Hannah out of the water, and she went to a local hospital. Two days later, the Memphis, Tennessee, native was transferred to a hospital back in the United States for emergency surgery. Updates provided by her family (shared on GoFundMe) note that Hannah has undergone over 10 surgeries in the two and a half weeks following the boating incident. Though she suffered some medical setbacks and doctors performed extensive procedures, the recent graduate has been pulling through. It remains unclear how exactly Hannah ended up in the water, as sources differ. The pontoon ferry's captain allegedly told local authorities that Hannah jumped into the water. Police claim that alcohol consumption possibly played a role in the tragic incident. However, the recent graduate's parents, Tracy and Marvin Smith, deny that their daughter was inebriated. The recent graduate and Delta Sigma Theta sorority member studied communications and graphic design at Miles College, a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) institution in Alabama. A family member has created a GoFundMe to aid Hannah with her medical costs and recovery. At the beginning of the fundraiser's description, it describes Hannah as a young woman who is 'love' and 'light.' 'This boating accident will not define your life,' declared Hannah's family member in the GoFundMe's description. 'We need you to have many more birthdays, more holidays, more life experiences… While on what was supposed to be a beautiful trip to the Bahamas, Hannah was involved in a tragic accident that nearly claimed her life. Through the grace of God, she's still with us, but the road ahead is long, filled with surgeries, recovery, and overwhelming medical costs.' As of this reporting, the fundraiser has received over 1,200 donations. It's currently at over $50,500 of its $250,000 goal. A May 29 update on Hannah's well-being said, 'This journey is taking a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual toll. Please keep her lifted in your thoughts and prayers. She is fighting!!!' In late March, the State Department updated its travel advisory for Americans traveling to The Bahamas. The alert included a notice regarding crime, swimming-related risks, and traveling with firearms and ammunition on the Caribbean post 22-Year-Old Woman Tragically Loses Legs Following Freak Accident In The Bahamas appeared first on Travel Noire.
Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Major health update on tourist, 22, whose legs were torn off by boat propeller
Hannah Smith, 22, remains in hospital with her devastated family by her side as she continues to recover from a tragic accident in the Bahamas which saw her lose both her legs A university graduate who was sucked into a boat 's propeller and had both her legs torn off has undergone more than a dozen surgeries, her heartbroken sister has revealed. Hannah Smith, 22, was on a dream trip to the Bahamas last month as she celebrated graduating with top honours for her arts degree at Miles College, Alabama when tragedy struck. According to the young woman's family, Hannah fell from the side of a pontoon boat as it was docking and was suddenly dragged beneath the water by its propeller, leaving her with catastrophic injuries and partially severed legs. Two female passengers managed to grab her arm and pull her back on board and she was airlifted to the US for surgery. The family set up a GoFundMe page to cover the mounting medical bills and in the latest update, Rachel Smith revealed her sister is still "fighting". "Your continued prayers and support are very much needed and appreciated," the update reads. "Hannah has undergone her 13th surgery with more to come. This journey is taking a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual toll. Please keep her lifted in your thoughts and prayers. She is fighting!!! Thank you for all the love and support." Hannah's parents Tracy and Marvin Smith, as well as sister Rachel, have travelled from their home in Tennessee to be by her bedside in a Miami hospital. In another update, Rachel said her sister is "progressing slowly". "Hannah underwent her sixth surgery Monday May 20, 2025. This was one of her less extensive procedures," it read. "Doctors more so used this time for debridement, examination, and determining a plan of action. She is progressing slowly but surely day by day. Her strength and ability to overcome every obstacle in her journey is beautiful!" Another update, posted on May 17, reads: "Hannah suffered a few setbacks. She had to undergo additional transfusions of blood, platelets, and dialysis. Before she was taken into her scheduled surgery, she momentarily came out of her sedation. She was able to acknowledge our presence and encouraging words with head nods and squeezing our hands. She has underwent her fifth surgery. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers." Just a week after the tragedy, Hannah's devastated parents told the Mirror their daughter was a Crossfit-loving athlete who was a keen cheerleader, footballer and track runner. "She's still in intensive care, but she's conscious when she's not in surgery," Marvin told the Mirror. "She definitely knows we're there supporting her. It means the world to her, she was so happy when she regained consciousness that we were all here." "We're trying to keep her spirits up," added emotional mum Tracy. "She's in a lot of pain. We're trying to practise techniques to distract her from it. Encourage her and just try to keep her pushing forward." The Royal Bahamas Police said an investigation into the freak accident was ongoing, adding in a statement: "The victim is alleged to have entered the water from a vessel she was a passenger on while it was attempting to dock. She sustained serious injuries to her lower body, caused by the vessel's propeller."
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tourist's three panicked words as woman has legs severed by boat propeller
Hannah Smith, 22, was left with serious injures and rushed to a nearby hospital after her legs were sliced by a boat propeller during her graduation celebration getaway Tourists yelled three panicked words as a woman's legs were severed by a boat propeller after she fell into the water. Gifted university graduate Hannah Smith, 22, had been celebrating her recent graduation from Alabama's Miles College when she was sucked into a boat propeller that cut both of her legs off. Her family has claimed Hannah fell from the side of a pontoon boat as it was docking when she was dragged below the water by the propeller. Hannah, from Memphis , Tennessee, booked a luxury Caribbean cruise via the Carnival Sunrise ship and had been on their way back from an excursion to Pearl Island - a tropical island getaway - in the Bahamas when she reportedly fell into the water at Nassau Cruise Port at 3:55pm on the day of the incident. Panicked passengers cried "she's jumped off" when Hannah ended up in the water. The ferry captain then turned the engine off and saw Hannah in the water surrounded by a pool of blood. A shocked witness told police two female passengers grabbed Hannah by the arm and pulled her back onto the boat. She was then taken to a hospital with "serious" injuries to her legs and lower body and that they had been partially severed. Hannah was then flown to back to the US on Wednesday where she has undergone further surgeries. There had been claims that alcohol was somehow involved in the incident, but Hannah's mum Tracy Smith furiously hit back at the claims, adding: "Hannah was not intoxicated. She fell from the boat. It's hurtful to say she jumped because she did not." Tracy also quizzed why police did not interview Hannah's friend Brooklyn Pitre, who had witnessed the incident. She added: "These kids work their a**** off to graduate. It was a celebratory trip. "Do they have fun? Yes. Were they drunk? No. Did she jump? No. Are we completely aware of what happened? No." She continued: "But could there have been a safety mechanism that was off, was the boat rocking, we are not 100 per cent sure of that. There are so many things that could have been happening. I want to know the truth. This was a young woman, happy, celebrating her life and now she's fighting for it." Hannah's dad, Marvin, said he had spoken to a doctor who treated Hannah at Doctor's Hospital in Nassau. He added everything "suggested she was coherent" and "not inebriated" when she arrived. In a GoFundMe appeal set up by the family, Hannah's sister Rachel revealed a tragic update. She added: "Hannah suffered a few setbacks. She had to undergo additional transfusions of blood, platelets, and dialysis. "Before she was taken into her scheduled surgery, she momentarily came out of her sedation. She was able to acknowledge our presence and encouraging words with head nods and squeezing our hands. She has underwent her fifth surgery. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers." Following the incident, well wishes and prayers were shared on social media. "Sending our deepest prayers and support to recent graduate Hannah Smith, Summa Cum Laude Class of 2025, who is currently in critical condition in Nassau, Bahamas," Miles College said in a May 13 Facebook post. "
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tragic update after tourist sucked into boat propeller and has legs torn off
Hannah Smith, 22, was on a dream holiday to the Bahamas when she was sucked into a boat's propeller and left with partially severed legs - before being airlifted to the US for surgery The sister of a university graduate who was sucked into a boat 's propeller and had both her legs torn off has issued a heartbreaking update as she continues to fight for her life in hospital. Hannah Smith, 22, had recently graduated with top honours for her arts degree at Miles College, Alabama, and was celebrating on a dream holiday to the Bahamas when tragedy struck. According to her family, Hannah fell from the side of a pontoon boat as it was docking and was suddenly dragged beneath the water by its propeller, leaving her with catastrophic injuries and partially severed legs. Her life was only saved thanks to the swift action of two female passengers, who managed to grab her arm and pull her back on board. Hannah was then rushed to a local hospital before being airlifted to the US for surgery. In a GoFundMe appeal set up to help the family cover the mounting medical bills, Hannah's sister Rachel gave a tragic update to supporters, revealing that her treatment has been plagued by complications. She said: "Hannah suffered a few setbacks. She had to undergo additional transfusions of blood, platelets, and dialysis. Before she was taken into her scheduled surgery, she momentarily came out of her sedation. "She was able to acknowledge our presence and encouraging words with head nods and squeezing our hands. She has underwent her fifth surgery. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers." She remains in a critical condition, MailOnline reports. Sources told how alcohol may have played a role in the accident, with some claiming Hannah had jumped into the water. However, her mum Tracy Smith has furiously hit back at the claims, saying: "Hannah was not intoxicated. She fell from the boat. It's hurtful to say she jumped because she did not." Tracy also questioned why police didn't interview Hannah's best friend Brooklyn Pitre - who had witnessed the accident. "These kids work their a***s off to graduate. It was a celebratory trip," she said. "Do they have fun? Yes. Were they drunk? No. Did she jump? No. Are we completely aware of what happened? No. "But could there have been a safety mechanism that was off, was the boat rocking, we are not 100 percent sure of that. There are so many things that could have been happening. I want to know the truth. This was a young woman, happy, celebrating her life and now she's fighting for it." Hannah's dad Marvin said he had spoken to the doctor treating Hannah at Doctors Hospital in Nassau, and everything he told him "suggested she was coherent" and "not inebriated" when she arrived. To celebrate her graduation on May 3, Hannah booked the luxury Caribbean cruise via the Carnival Sunrise ship. She and pal Brooklyn were on their way back from an excursion to Pearl Island - a tropical getaway known for its swimming pigs and dolphins - when she reportedly fell into the water moments after the pontoon ferry arrived on the Nassau Cruise Port at 3.55pm. The ferry's captain immediately turned off the engine when he heard panicked cries of "she jumped off" and a loud noise coming from the boat's starboard. He then saw Hannah in the water surrounded by a pool of blood. A witness told police that two female passengers grabbed Hannah's arm and dragged her back onto the boat before she was rushed to hospital with "serious" injuries to her legs and lower body. The 22-year-old was then flown to the US Wednesday where she has undergone further surgeries. Hannah - a former member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority - graduated university with a degree in communications and graphic design. Miles College said of her on Facebook: "Sending our deepest prayers and support to recent graduate Hannah Smith, Summa Cum Laude Class of 2025, who is currently in critical condition. Hannah exemplifies the Golden Standard, and we are believing in her full recovery. We ask our Miles family and extended community to keep her lifted in prayer and to support however you can." The Royal Bahamas Police said an investigation into the freak accident was ongoing, adding in a statement: "The victim is alleged to have entered the water from a vessel she was a passenger on while it was attempting to dock. She sustained serious injuries to her lower body, caused by the vessel's propeller."
