Wounded soldier thinks of daughter

Only youth and extraordinary willpower can explain Pte Ronnie Rushe's survival three weeks after shrapnel from an 81mm mortar-round tore into his chest and stomach.

The 23-year-old soldier from Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, had recovered sufficiently yesterday to sit up and utter a few words through a tube inserted in his trachea.

His first thoughts were for his two-year-old daughter back home. "I love you, Michaela, I miss you and I want to see you soon," he said.

With his father, Michael, and his partner, Ms Lisa Molloy, at his bedside, Pte Rushe also expressed condolences to the family of Pte Billy Kedian, of Boggadh, Co Offaly, who died in the same attack on an Irish Army observation post in South Lebanon on May 31st.

Pte Rushe was moved from intensive care to a general surgical ward in Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel, on Monday. Outside his fourth-floor window, an Israeli frigate patrolled the waters of the eastern Mediterranean - a reminder of the conflict that almost cost Pte Rushe his life.

Having drifted in and out of a coma over the past few weeks, the patient was well enough yesterday to receive a visit from the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith.

Afterwards Mr Smith said Pte Rushe was very much improved. The soldier said he had lost a great friend in Pte Kedian and he asked the Minister to protect his colleagues in the Irish UNIFIL battalion in South Lebanon.

"Even in the midst of his own very great trauma and major operations, his thoughts were for his colleagues," Mr Smith said. "The least we can do for him and Pte Kedian is to take steps to ensure that these kinds of incidents are stopped. They're reckless, indiscriminate and there's no sense to them."

Pte Rushe has received visits from many of his colleagues in C Company over the past fortnight. Last Tuesday he celebrated his 23rd birthday in the hospital with a cake baked by a local voluntary worker, Mrs Houlda Gurevitch, known as "the white angel".