Miranda Birdsall’s family says she wouldn’t have worried about her own safety for one moment if someone needed help.
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Tragically, her selflessness cost the Lilli Pilli mother of three her life when she valiantly tried to rescue a woman and her dog from a lake in Switzerland.
All three perished in the waters of Lake Biel, with their deaths being blamed on an electrical fault, which sent an active current through the marina railing and nearby water.
Ms Birdsall’s heroism was revealed by her children, Oliver, Annelotte and Josetta in a personal notice in the Leader last week.
Josetta Birdsall said her mother, who was 53, was on an extended holiday in Switzerland, where she found love and solace in new partner Alvin Varga.
The accident occurred on May 15.
“Mum was very adventurous – she loved cycling, skiing, hiking, sailing and climbing mountains” Josetta said
“She and her close friend Barbara had set out to cycle around Lake Biel in one day.
“They were riding along the La Neuveville side of the lake when they heard a scream behind them, and immediately turned back to help.
“A 24-year old woman, Claire Schäfli, who was in the Army, had been trying to rescue her dog, Makani, who had fallen into the water, but then she fell in herself.
“Mum was first to arrive at the scene and climbed over the railing as she attempted to reach the young woman in the water, unaware of the electrical fault.
“Barbara, a nurse, witnessed the incident and realised the danger and unusual nature of the situation, and ran to a nearby restaurant to get help.
”The police told us the autopsy found neither the women nor animal suffered.
“The investigation remains ongoing, but police believe there was a serious fault with the electricity supply in the marina, which electrified the railing and water.”
Ms Birdsall’s children are proud, but not surprised by their mother’s actions.
“She wouldn’t have thought about her own safety for one moment,” Josetta said
Ms Birdsall was born Miranda Korn in the Netherlands. She met Ross Birdsall whilst living in Switzerland and they later married and came to Australia, settling in Lilli Pilli.
“I hope to live my life with the same positive, caring and free spirit that Mum had,” Annelotte said.
“Mum loved her family, she loved her friends, she loved life, she lived it to the fullest. I miss her, I’m thankful to have shared 25 years with her,” Oliver said.
The family’s personal notice read: “Miranda’s love of travel and adventure will live on in her soul and her spirit will live on in her children.
“We are going to miss Miranda’s energy and positive way of living. Let the good memories of her give us strength in the emptiness that she leaves behind.”