Mum Of Two Dies In US After Falling Down Stairs At Her Home

AN Irish businesswoman and mother of two has died after a freak fall at her US home. Hazel Morrison-Frank (37), who is originally from Ballingarry in Limerick but who had been living in Cork, suffered fatal injuries when she slipped and fell down the stairs of her New York city home.

Mrs Morrison-Frank fell down the stairs of her Brooklyn home and, despite desperate efforts by surgeons to stabilise her condition, she died 10 days after the freak accident.

Her husband, Andrew, and children, Caoilain (3) and Cian (1), are being comforted by family and friends.

The businesswoman had been planning a trip back to Ireland just days after the freak accident occurred.

Her remains were flown back to Ireland yesterday, with her 12 noon Requiem Mass to take place in Limerick tomorrow.

The respected marketing executive, who ran HMF Concept Creative Consultants, had been based for several years in Cork but had relocated to the US in 2009.

Her husband Andrew, whom she wed in a ceremony at UCC's Honan Chapel, was also working in New York.

In 2006, she was singled out as a young Irish businesswoman for the future.

'Business Cork' hailed her as one of the Top 100 young Irish business executives to watch for the next decade.

Her sister, Tiona, said the entire family are heartbroken by the tragedy.

"She fought hard for 10 days but passed away last Sunday.

"We had a wake for her in Brooklyn on Wednesday... there were three sisters in the family and we were all very close," she said.

Over recent years, Mrs Morrison-Frank was a senior adviser to Fragrances of Ireland, who produce the Inis brand, on their North American marketing.

She is survived by her father, Ned, her mother, Mary, and siblings, John Paul, Aidan, Triona and Aisling.