A County Durham teenager who was left with a broken back after being “wiped out” by a paraglider in Turkey has landed on home soil. 

Lily Nichol, from Chester-le-Street, was involved in a freak accident while eating at a restaurant in the tourist hotspot of Oludeniz last month (November 8). 

The 15-year-old was reportedly left unconscious after being “struck” by the paraglider, before later discovering she had a broken back, a bleed on the brain, and broken ribs.

Lily was rushed to the Letoon Private Hospital, where she remained for several days before being “blue-lighted” to the Private OFM Antalya Hospital in Antalya after doctors found she was suffering from a punctured lung.

Lily in hospitalLily in hospital (Image: LYNDSEY LOGAN)

But last weekend, three weeks on from the ordeal and just days after having three operations on her back and jaw, Lily was flown home, walking off her medical plane at Newcastle Airport. 

Lily’s mother Lyndsey Logan, 39, told The Northern Echo this week that they were both “so happy to be back” in the UK. 

She said: “We arrived back on Saturday and we had to get a medical flight. £25,000 was donated by Lia's Wings charity and we had to find £21,000.

“She slept all the way - she was given medication as it was uncomfortable. She had to walk onto the flight too so she could get up the stairs, as there was nothing that could fit through the door.” 

Lily Nichol has returned to NewcastleLily Nichol has returned to Newcastle (Image: LYNDSEY LOGAN)

Lily underwent three surgeries on November 18 on her spine, disc, and jaw, with these alone reaching costs of £45,000. These came just days after Lily had an operation on her lung. 

Thankfully, the surgery was successful, and Lily was able to fly home with the help of Lia's Wings, a national charity that provides hospital air transfers for children.

She is now being looked after by teams at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle.

Lyndsey continued: “We came back to the UK and doctors here said the operations had gone well.

"She does have an infection in her back at the moment though so we are trying to get that cleared. We’re at the RVI now and I think we will be here for a while.

“It will probably be another week or so and then she will need care at home.” 

And while there is still a long road ahead, Lyndsey said Lily is “so much happier”.

She added: “She is better in herself and we have got everything under control now. She is so much happier and is actually smiling!”

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Due to the family not having insurance, medical bills were extremely high for Lily, and the family set up a GoFundMe to help with the costs.

This has amassed a staggering £58,000 - but they still need to raise $5,000 to cover the remaining expenses for her care and transport. 

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