Latest news with #RachelSmith
ABC News
12-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Prisoner takes fight to freeze her eggs to Queensland's highest court
A Queensland prisoner has taken her fight to have her eggs frozen while in custody to the state's highest court. Rachel Smith is currently serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted of drug trafficking and will be eligible for parole in 2029. In 2024, when Smith was aged 33, she attempted to apply to the chief executive of Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) to undergo a privately funded Oocyte cryopreservation procedure. Her application was unable to be considered based on QCS legislation which bans prisoners from applying for access to medical treatments involving "assisted reproductive technology". Last year, Smith tried and failed to have that decision overturned in the Supreme Court and has now brought her challenge before the Court of Appeal. This week, lawyers for Smith argued the Supreme Court judge who upheld the chief executive's decision had made an error in law when interpreting the QCS legislation. Paula Morreau told the court egg freezing does not fall under the "ordinary meaning" of "assisted reproductive technology" because the procedure alone cannot cause reproduction. Although pregnancy is Smith's "ultimate aim", as she intends to have her frozen eggs fertilised and implanted after she leaves prison, Ms Morreau said this is only "a possibility". In a judicial review decision published in November, Smith submitted egg freezing was merely a "preparatory" activity, which could later lead to other processes "which involve conception". "[Smith] submitted the ordinary meaning of the phrase is the application of technology at a point where reproduction can occur by its implementation, such as in vitro fertilisation or artificial insemination", the judgement said. "On Ms Smith's case, it is only those later processes which constitute 'assisted reproductive technology'." However, Justice Tom Sullivan rejected this argument, and determined the process involved the use of various technology "solely for the purpose of assisting in reproduction". He said this was because it includes multiple drug administrations, daily medical examinations, blood tests, ultrasounds, and the egg extraction, which is performed under sedation. "[Egg freezing procedures] are one in a series of sequential, technological steps required for the potential birth of a child," he said in the judgement. Smith also tried to argue her human rights were being breached. She submitted the section of the Human Rights Act — which states "all statutory provisions must, to the extent possible that is consistent with their purpose, be interpreted in a way that is compatible with human rights" — was not considered by the chief executive. This included her right to have access to health services "without discrimination" and to be "treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human process" while incarcerated. Justice Sullivan also rejected this argument, finding a consideration of this part of the legislation "does not lead to a different result". "The decision of the chief executive was correct in law and the application should be dismissed," he said in the judgement. The Court of Appeal decision on whether Justice Sullivan's ruling was lawful has been reserved.
Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- Times
I thought I was going to die, says British woman attacked by shark
A British woman has flown home for emergency surgery after she was bitten by a shark while on holiday in Jamaica. Rachel Smith, 26, was in hip-height water off Rose Hall beach, in Montego Bay, when a shark bit her left hand. She was terrified to see her ring finger was hanging off, with blood spurting from the wound. Her sister, Lisa, 28, saw a metre-long shark swimming away and managed to bring Smith to safety while warning others to keep away. Both sisters were knocked over by the impact of the animal, which was in an area that had been designated as safe to swim in. Doctors said the bite marks were likely those of a reef shark. Smith, a pharmacologist, was taken to hospital in an ambulance and doctors said she needed plastic surgery but with no surgeon available for two weeks, she and her sister flew back to their parents' home in Cork, Ireland, to seek treatment. Doctors said the tendons and nerves in Smith's ring and little fingers were damaged, and the ligaments in her ring finger had been separated. After emergency surgery, she hopes to regain full movement in 18 months. Smith and her sister, a procurement specialist, both from Newham, London, said they had suffered nightmares since the attack on May 8. Smith said: 'There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die. I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off. 'I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand. I have a long road of recovery ahead but I have a positive attitude and I believe I will get through it.' Her sister added: 'We were so terrified. I honestly thought her fingers were gone — there was blood everywhere. 'We were just crying and thinking she was going to die.' The sisters had to pay for ambulance and taxi travel to hospitals in Jamaica and to get a 'fit to fly' certificate to come home.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Tourist's finger left hanging off after shark attack in Jamaica
A British tourist feared for her life after she was savagely attacked by a shark in Jamaica. Rachel Smith, 26, was on holiday with her sister when the fish bit through her left hand while swimming in Montego Bay. Her ring finger was left hanging off as she watched 'blood pour everywhere' before being rushed to the local hospital earlier this month. She was forced to fly to Ireland - where her parents live - for emergency treatment after doctors on the Caribbean island said the plastic surgeon was not available for two weeks. Rachel, a pharmacologist from London, admitted: 'There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die. 'I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off.' Doctors at Cork University Hospital in Ireland told Rachel that the tendons and nerves in her ring and little finger were ruptured as well as disconnected ligaments in the ring finger. Despite the ordeal, with what is believed to have been a reef shark, Rachel said: 'I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand. 'I have a long road of recovery ahead but I have a positive attitude and I believe I will get through it.' She is hoping to regain movement in the next 18 months but has since been suffering from nightmares. Her sister Lisa, who led Rachel out of the water and warned others to stay away, has also been 'terrified' ever since the attack on May 8. 'I honestly thought her fingers were gone - there was blood everywhere,' the 28-year-old said. 'At one point a vein burst and sprayed blood all over both of us. We were just crying and thinking she was going to die.' She said the shark knocked both of them over with its body before taking a swipe at Lisa despite the flag on the beach indicating it was safe to swim. She said: 'There were two young kids swimming by the rope, it's lucky it wasn't them.' The sisters, who travel together every year, were planning to stay at the Hilton Rose hotel for two weeks. Lisa added: 'I'm just so glad and grateful that she's alive.'
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
British holidaymaker attacked by shark during morning swim ‘thought she would die'
A Brit has been forced to fly home for emergency surgery after she was bitten by a shark during a holiday horror. Rachel Smith, 26, was paddling in hip-height water off Rose Hall beach, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, when the creature snapped at her left hand. She was terrified to see her ring finger was hanging off and blood was pouring from the wound. Sister Lisa Smith, 28, saw a metre-long shark darting away - and she led Rachel to safety while shouting out a warning to other holidaymakers enjoying a morning paddle. Pharmacologist Rachel was taken to hospital in an ambulance and medics said she needed plastic surgery. But with no surgeon available for two weeks, the pair cut their holiday short and flew to Cork, Ireland, where their parents live. Doctors confirmed the tendons and nerves in Rachel's ring and little fingers were ruptured, and the ligaments in her ring finger had been disconnected. She had emergency surgery and hopes to regain full movement in 18 months time. Lisa, a procurement specialist, and Rachel, both from Newham, London, said they have suffered with nightmares since the attack on May 8. Rachel said: "There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die. 'I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off. 'I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand. "I have a long road of recovery ahead but I have a positive attitude and I believe I will get through it.' Lisa added: "We were so terrified. "I honestly thought her fingers were gone - there was blood everywhere. "At one point a vein burst and sprayed blood all over both of us. "We were just crying and thinking she was going to die." The close sisters holiday together each year and had arrived at the Hilton Rose hotel on May 5, intending to stay for two weeks. She was attacked around 10am, and say the shark knocked them both backwards after hitting them with its body. The sisters say the flag on the beach was raised indicating it was safe to swim and doctors confirmed the bite was likely to belong to a reef shark. The pair were initially taken to a private hospital where they were asked to pay $2,000 to have the wounds stitched and quoted $25,000 for further surgery. The transferred to a public hospital before heading home for surgery at Cork University Hospital. The sisters had to pay for ambulance and taxi travel to hospitals in Jamaica, and to get a 'fit to fly' certificate to come home - totalling nearly $500. Rachel said: "I really did think I would die. The private hospital were only concerned with getting the payment before stopping the bleeding." Lisa said Rachel was bitten inside an area cordoned off as safe to swim inside, near the beach, by a rope. "There were two young kids swimming by the rope, it's lucky it wasn't them," she said. "I'm just so glad and grateful that she's alive."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Holidaymaker flies home for emergency surgery after shark attack
A holidaymaker was forced to fly home to the for emergency surgery after she was bitten by a shark. Rachel Smith, 26, was paddling in hip-height water off Rose Hall beach, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, when the sea creature snapped at her left hand. She was terrified to see her ring finger was hanging off and blood was pouring from the wound. Sister Lisa Smith, 28, saw a metre-long shark darting away - and she led Rachel to safety while shouting out a warning to other holidaymakers enjoying a morning paddle. Pharmacologist Rachel was taken to hospital in an ambulance and medics said she needed plastic surgery. But with no surgeon available for two weeks, the pair cut their holiday short and flew to Cork, Ireland, where their parents live. READ MORE: Mike Tindall calls for help as he issue update on sad family health news READ MORE: Girl, 5, dies hours after being discharged from hospital with 'tonsillitis' Doctors confirmed the tendons and nerves in Rachel's ring and little fingers were ruptured, and the ligaments in her ring finger had been disconnected. She had emergency surgery and hopes to regain full movement in 18 months time. Lisa, a procurement specialist, and Rachel, both from Newham, London, said they have suffered with nightmares since the attack on May 8. Rachel said: "There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die. 'I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off. I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand. I have a long road of recovery ahead but I have a positive attitude and I believe I will get through it.' Lisa added: "We were so terrified. I honestly thought her fingers were gone - there was blood everywhere. At one point a vein burst and sprayed blood all over both of us. We were just crying and thinking she was going to die." The close sisters holiday together each year and had arrived at the Hilton Rose hotel on May 5, intending to stay for two weeks. She was attacked around 10am, and say the shark knocked them both backwards after hitting them with its body. The sisters say the flag on the beach was raised indicating it was safe to swim and doctors confirmed the bite was likely to belong to a reef shark. The pair were initially taken to a private hospital where they were asked to pay $2,000 to have the wounds stitched and quoted $25,000 for further surgery. The transferred to a public hospital before heading home for surgery at Cork University Hospital. The sisters had to pay for ambulance and taxi travel to hospitals in Jamaica, and to get a 'fit to fly' certificate to come home - totalling nearly $500. Rachel said: "I really did think I would die. The private hospital were only concerned with getting the payment before stopping the bleeding." Lisa said Rachel was bitten inside an area cordoned off as safe to swim inside, near the beach, by a rope. "There were two young kids swimming by the rope, it's lucky it wasn't them," she said. "I'm just so glad and grateful that she's alive."
