A GoFundMe page has raised close to €70,000 for a Tipperary postman who was left partially paralysed following a road traffic accident.
38-year-old Ryan O'Dwyer from Carrick-on-Suir was driving home from Clonmel on July 11th last when he became involved in a serious collision.
The postman was airlifted to Cork University Hospital (CUH) before being placed in an induced coma.
At CUH, Ryan underwent two surgeries on his brain. Despite the best efforts of his medical team, the injuries sustained in the collision have left him paralysed from the chest down.
Now using a wheelchair, Ryan will require life-long care and the installation of adaptive measures at his home.
Ryan's Carrick-on-Suir community has since rallied around him and a GoFundMe page is aiming to raise over €100,000 - of which almost €70,000 has been raised to date.
The Gofundme page for the "sociable", "positive" and "much loved" postman reads: "Ryan has suffered life-changing injuries and has a long testing road ahead of him. He will require rehabilitation therapy, and medical treatment and will require support with the long-term costs associated with his injuries.
"On behalf of Ryan’s family, we are asking you to please donate to this Go Fund Me Fundraiser. This fundraising campaign is necessary to support Ryan during this traumatic event in his life."
Not settling on the impressive sum raised by GoFundMe donations, Ryan's friends and family are set to host a special soccer tournament on November 26th.
Taking place in Rathgormack, 32 teams are set to compete to further raise funds for Ryan's rehabilitation.
Speaking to local Tipperary radio, Ryan's sister-in-law thanked everyone who has been involved in Ryan's recovery to date: “Donations (came) from everyone all over the country - it has been fantastic," she said.
"I would particularly like to thank the medical team and Dr Kamal and the medical professionals below in Cork University Hospital. Also, I would like to thank the air ambulance, the guards, the council, the fire bridge, the ambulances and all his colleagues in An Post and the quick response of all those people on the day of the accident.”
