A County Durham teenager who was left with a broken back after being “wiped out” by a paraglider in Turkey was “blue lighted” to another hospital after scans found she had a punctured lung.
Lily Nichol, from Chester-le-Street, was involved in a freak accident while eating at a restaurant on the final day of her holiday in Oludeniz, Turkey, last Friday (November 8).
After being "struck" by the paraglider, the 15-year-old was reportedly left unconscious and had a stroke, before later discovering she had a broken back, a bleed on the brain, and broken ribs.
Lily has been in hospital since Friday - with mother Lyndsey Logan, 39, launching a fundraiser to help cover medical costs, which are expected to be more than £45,000.
The fundraiser has since gone on to raise a staggering £41,000 - leaving the family “overwhelmed”.
Today (November 12), Lyndsey has provided an update on Lily, who she said was “blue lighted” to the Private OFM Antalya Hospital in Antalya last night after doctors found she had a punctured lung, which needed sorting ahead of a back operation.
Speaking to The Northern Echo from Turkey, Lyndsey said: “Lily wasn’t able to get the operation done on Monday. They blue lighted her to another hospital last night at about 9pm.
“The night of her pre-op she just wasn’t ready. They had to give her a CT scan and something came up - her lung was punctured and she wasn’t getting enough oxygen.
“Her ribs have also been shattered down one side.”
Lily - who was initially being looked after in the Letoon Private Hospital - had a minor operation this morning, and has since been joined in Turkey by her dad.
Lyndsey said: “They put a tube into her lung to drain it and to let oxygen in.
“Her breathing is now more positive - but she can’t have the back operation until she is fit.
“She is so much happier now - but she is still in pain and has a long way to go. I’ve been told that the back operation alone is going to cost 40,000 Euros, and I’m staying here.
“I’m trying to get the funds to get all her operations done here - her back, her jaw… we’re not going back home until we get the full treatment.”
Lily is expected to have the drain in for the next four days before the next steps towards her back operation can be taken.
Despite the horrific situation, Lyndsey has been truly overwhelmed by the response to her fundraiser, which recently saw one anonymous person donate £2,000 alone.
She added: “It’s absolutely amazing. I am so overwhelmed and I can’t thank people enough. We couldn’t do it without them.”
As previously reported, Lily has already had stitches on her eye, chin, and tongue following the ordeal, with Lyndsey describing how her daughter’s tongue had been “ripped apart”.
The incident took place just hours before the family were due to catch a flight home to hospital - with Lily’s sister Megan, 19, also caught up in the incident but with lesser injuries.
Lyndsey previously admitted that the medical bills were so high due to the family not having insurance, which made the situation “a lot worse”.
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Lyndsey, who works as a clear, said Lily will need an ambulance “ready for the plane to land” once she is fit enough to fly home.
She added: “I just want our girl home to her family. Please keep sharing and donate whatever you can.”
You can donate to the GoFundMe page here: https://tinyurl.com/2kczu9ek
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