Gardaí in Co Cork have arrested a man for questioning following an incident in Cobh in which a woman received multiple stab wounds which left her in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Garda sources said the woman, who is in her mid-40s, was extremely fortunate not to be killed in the attack which happened at her home in the Cooline estate in the town on Tuesday morning.

The woman was attacked by a man in his late 50s in her house at about 10.50am and she suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck and abdomen, as well as to the arms as she tried to protect herself.

The woman’s 16-year-old daughter managed to grab the knife from the man, suffering a wound to her hand in the process before raising the alarm and contacting gardaí who were quickly on the scene.

The woman was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery and last night she was understood to be in a serious but stable condition.

The woman’s daughter was also treated at Cork University Hospital for a hand wound before being discharged on Tuesday evening.

Gardaí arrested the man – who is known to both the woman and her daughter – at the scene and brought him to Cobh Garda station for questioning about the attack.

He was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí detain suspects for up to 24 hours before they have to be charged or released.