OVER €70,000 HAS been raised for an Irish student who is in a very serious condition after suffering from cardiac arrest while swimming in Maryland in the US this week.

Philip Leahy from Ballyhooly, Co Cork is fighting for his life following the incident on Wednesday morning.

The 22-year-old J1 student was swimming with three other people at a beach in the North Division Street area of Ocean City when they hit rough water and began to struggle.

One of the swimmers made it to land and called 911 for assistance. The other two swimmers were assisted to shore by the Ocean City Fire Department but Leahy began to suffer from cardiac arrest.

He is currently being treated in Atlantic General Hospital in Ocean City where he is said to be in a very serious condition.

A campaign has been set up to raise funds for the medical treatment of the Cork student. The Go Fund Me campaign describes the Leahy family as cornerstones of the Ballyhooly community.

It says, “Philip himself captained Ballyhooly to their first ever County Junior B Football title last year.

Philip’s outgoing personality and love of life make him a hugely popular character amongst all that know him.

The fund had a starting target of €60,000 but this has increased to €80,000 as the initial estimate of medical costs increased.  So far, almost €72,000 has been raised.

Read: Irish J1 student in ‘very serious condition’ after suffering cardiac arrest while swimming>