Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Ayla Collins 'a little fighter - she truly is a miracle to us'

28 Jul, 2015 06:50 PM4 minutes to read
Former New Zealand All Black star pictured with his his baby girl Ayla is now five-months-old, who has been brought back to Canada for ongoing care. Photo / Facebook

Former New Zealand All Black star pictured with his his baby girl Ayla is now five-months-old, who has been brought back to Canada for ongoing care. Photo / Facebook

Daily Mail

The orphaned daughter of former All Black Jerry Collins is improving every day according to her guardians, who say she is "thriving" and a "happy baby" after surviving the horrific car crash which claimed her parents' lives.

App users tap here to see new photos

New photos of baby Ayla show the four-month-old in the arms of her devoted aunts, who say the little girl is an encouragingly "big baby" who is growing stronger and "continues to be a little fighter", Fairfax Media reports.

"She's a big baby and a good eater ... She's a really good sleeper at night and she's a happy baby," Ayla's aunt Nora Madill said. "She continues to be a little fighter. She truly is a miracle to us."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The new photos come just days before Ayla's mother, Alana Madill, will finally be laid to rest in Canada.

Baby Ayla sleeps happily in the arms of her aunt Nora in a new image of the incredible survivor. Photo / Facebook
Baby Ayla sleeps happily in the arms of her aunt Nora in a new image of the incredible survivor. Photo / Facebook

A funeral service for Ms Madill was delayed until August One so her family and friends could remain in France to care for Ayla which she received care in a French hospital.

Her husband, a celebrated rugby great, was farewelled in an emotional funeral on June 18 in Wellington, New Zealand, where he was remembered as a hero who saved his daughter's life in his dying moments.

Ayla escaped the crash with life-threatening injuries, but the newly released images of the little girl are of hope and promise, as she is nurtured by her mother's family.

In one photograph, Ayla lies sleeping on her aunt Nora's lap, as Nora - Ms Madill's sister - beams up at the camera contentedly.

An older photo from a French hospital earlier this month shows Ayla in her aunt Brenna's lap. Photo / Facebook
An older photo from a French hospital earlier this month shows Ayla in her aunt Brenna's lap. Photo / Facebook

In the other newly released image of the beautiful little girl, Ayla sits on her Aunt Brenna's lap, eyes wide open as they cuddle in a French hospital in July.

Related articles

New Zealand

Jerry Collins' baby improving

13 Jun 10:07 PM
New Zealand

Baby Ayla wakes from induced coma

25 Jun 09:40 PM
Sport

Baby Ayla shows spirit in Dad's jersey

03 Jul 11:59 PM
New Zealand

Baby Ayla well enough to leave France

05 Jul 05:47 AM

Authorities are investigating if Ayla's mother Alana Madill fell asleep at the wheel as she drove with her husband and 10-week-old daughter to cause the crash which killed the couple instantly in France on June 5.

Police believe Mr Collins, a Samoan-born rugby star, saved his daughter's life by throwing himself over the baby as a bus smashed into their vehicle.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Ayla was taken to Montpellier Hospital in France with bleeding on the brain and then transferred to Winnipeg Children's Hospital in Canda - Ms Madill's homeland - a month later.

The four-month-old settled into her maternal grandparents' home on July 10 to be cared for by the couple, Ruth and Darrell Madill, in Winnipeg in central Canada.

She is expected to need ongoing medical care.

"Ayla continues to make encouraging progress as assessed through comprehensive medical tests undertaken upon her arrival to hospital in Canada; and many follow up appointments are arranged for her over the coming weeks and months to monitor her future health status," said a statement released by the family earlier this month.

"Current medical opinion is that, sadly, little Ayla will likely suffer ongoing disabilities the full extent of which cannot yet be known. Ayla will need intense ongoing care.'

On Tuesday, Nora Madill says doctors' expectations have not changed but it is still too soon to know definitely what Ayla's condition will be like into the future.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"She's still so little and she's still developing," Ms Madill said.

During Mr Collins' funeral service, All Black legend Lomu said the way Collins sacrificed his life for his daughter demonstrated the type of man he was.

"Listening to the reports and what they say about how they found him - that he was protecting his baby - that's just typical Jerry," Lomu said.

"He was a proud Porirua boy, a proud Samoan, but more importantly he was just a great man."

Former All Black Chris Masoe said: 'When you realised what was coming and you protected Ayla from the impact with your arms and your whole body over her ... you made it possible for her to have a chance. That's the man you are.'

His father To'omata Frank Collins said it was clear his son was dearly loved, while his uncle spoke on behalf of the family saying that the former rugby union star had left them with a message.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"Life is so sweet and yet so short," Collins' uncle Fr Lu Collins said.

"So love the life to the best you can. Do not waste the life you're living now."

Tim Castle, Collins' manager and close friend told mourners of his fallen mate's ability to connect with anyone despite their age or background.

'He taught us all how to cherish each other and how to value difference,' Mr Castle said.

He described Collins as 'wicked, mischievous young man', and a giant 'with the most gentle and generous inner soul'.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New ZealandUpdated

Road closed as seven fire trucks respond to a building fire

19 Aug 11:11 PM
New Zealand|PoliticsUpdated

Rogue Labour MP reveals complaint sent to PM's chief of staff last year

19 Aug 10:51 PM
New Zealand|PoliticsUpdated

Law and order policies 'no magic bullet' on crime and gangs

19 Aug 10:28 PM
Video

Flooding run off pollutes Nelson Haven

New Zealand

Wild weather: Rain-battered residents remain on edge

19 Aug 10:05 PM

Most Popular

Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent
New Zealand

Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent

19 Aug 09:35 PM
Live: 'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight
New Zealand

Live: 'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight

19 Aug 07:25 PM
Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter
Entertainment

Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter

19 Aug 06:03 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP