A Co Tyrone community has donated thousands to the Air Ambulance after it helped a local bricklayer who was injured after falling 20 feet from the second floor of a building.
Peter Quinn from Ardboe was working on a building in the Moortown area in July 2024, when he fell from it onto the ground with colleagues fearing he had suffered a very serious injury.
The Air Ambulance was sent to the scene alongside other ambulance crews who carried out treatment on the bricklayer before taking him to the Royal Victoria Hospital. A journey that took just nine minutes thanks to the helicopter.
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However, Peter has no recollection of the trip and can only remember brief moments of him being placed on a stretcher.
He said: “I don’t remember the fall, the helicopter, or anything at all. The only thing I briefly recall is being lifted from one stretcher to another on the Royal Victoria Hospital helipad.”
It was later discovered that Peter had fractured a bone in his back and he went on to spend a week in hospital before being discharged with a body cast, which he wore for the next three months.
Thankfully, Peter did not sustain any permanent damage to his spinal cord and with the support of his family, friends, and the community, he made steady progress and Peter is now back on his feet and has returned to work.
As a way of giving back to the life-saving charity, Peter alongside his family, friends and wider community held a Christmas Quiz at Ardboe Community Centre on 28th December, alongside a raffle of prizes kindly donated by local businesses and individuals. The event was a resounding success, raising an incredible £10,545 for the charity.
Peter said, “I would like to thank everyone who helped me on the day I fell. I would also like to thank my family and friends that helped me organise the fundraiser especially Madoch, Ciaran, Donal, Connor, Charlie and Jude. I am also grateful to the business sponsors and to everyone who gave so generously.”
Damien McAnespie, Fundraising Manager for Air Ambulance NI, said, “The day of Peter’s accident (22nd July 2024) was the seventh anniversary of the service and it is a reminder how vital the air ambulance is to everyone and how a quick response, matched with clinical care interventions carried out on the scene, can make a real difference.”
"Peter’s family, friends and the entire community of Ardboe and Moortown then raised a huge amount of money as a sign of their appreciation and we are very indebted to them for their support. Their donation of £10,545 will fund the service for over one day, potentially helping to save the life, brain or limb of another two individuals in the region - individuals like Peter who was out doing his day’s work and who never expected he would need the service. Thank you to everyone who donated in support of Peter and Air Ambulance NI.”
As a local charity, Air Ambulance NI relies on the generosity of the public to maintain and sustain its essential services, aiming to raise £2.5 million annually. Public donations are crucial to supporting this lifesaving mission. One of the simplest ways to contribute is by becoming a member of Club AANI and donating via a monthly or annual subscription.
For more information on how to support Air Ambulance NI or to become a member of Club AANI, please visit www.airambulanceni.org. Direct inquiries can also be made by emailing [email protected] or calling 028 9262 2677.
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