A fundraising drive to raise money for a County Durham teenager who was “wiped out” by a paraglider in Turkey has topped £20,000. 

Lily Nichol, 15, was enjoying a trip to Oludeniz  with her mother Lyndsey Logan, 39, and sister Megan, 19, when she was involved in a freak accident while at a restaurant on Friday (November 8). 

The Chester-le-Street schoolgirl was struck by a paraglider, leaving her with a list of serious injuries, including a broken back, a bleed on the brain, broken ribs, and a broken jaw. 

Lily was rushed to the Letoon Private Hospital following the horrific ordeal, which mum Lyndsey said knocked her unconscious and caused her to have a stroke.

Lily needed stitches in several placesLily needed stitches in several places (Image: LYNDSEY LOGAN)

The family launched a fundraiser to try to help pay for Lily’s medical bills, which are set to cost about £45,000, and in just two days have managed to raise more than £21,000. 

Swathes of generous donors have helped contribute to the fund - with one person even donating £500 alone - which was set up due to Lyndsey not having insurance.  

Lyndsey told The Northern Echo yesterday (November 9): “It happened on Friday at 1pm. We were just having some food at a restaurant and I just remember eating when a person came from the air. 

Lyndsey has been left devastated by the incidentLyndsey has been left devastated by the incident (Image: LYNDSEY LOGAN)

“Lily went unconscious and then had a stroke. She woke up and she thought it had been a dream - it was just horrible. It just happened so fast, but I remember it. I thought she was dead.”

Lily has since needed to have stitches on her eye, chin, and tongue, with Lyndsey describing how her daughter’s tongue had been “ripped apart” during the incident, which happened just hours before the family were due to fly home to Newcastle.

Lyndsey, who works as a cleaner, said she had had no sleep since Friday following the accident, as the family wait for Lily to have a back and chin operation. 

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The mum begged people to donate “anything possible” to the online GoFundMe, saying: “I just want to get our girl home safe and well.”

As of 7pm on Saturday, the fundraiser had reached £9,038 - and just 20 hours later, it had hit a staggering £21,349, a boost of more than £12,000.

You can donate to the GoFundMe page here: https://tinyurl.com/2kczu9ek