A DOWNPATRICK man is embarking on a charity climb in the Mournes to raise money for the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.
Damian Carlin is taking on the Three Peaks Challenge as a way to thank the Air Ambulance for helping him after an unexpected work accident.
The 28 year-old needed urgent medical attention when a concrete slab fell on his ankle in August 2017.
Damian’s work colleague called 999 and due to the seriousness of the accident, Air Ambulance NI was tasked to the scene — just three weeks after the service started.
Dr Russel McLaughlin and paramedic Mike Patton administered pain relief and were able to set his Damian’s ankle, before transferring him to Craigavon Hospital where he remained for three days.
He then had to take a further 13 weeks off work and received surgery to further assist his recovery.
Now having regained mobility in his ankle, Damian will be climbing Slieve Donard, Cuilcagh and Slemish throughout September to fundraise for the regional emergency medical service.
Damian said: “I will always be grateful that Air Ambulance NI were on the scene that day. The fact that they were so quick to arrive really helped me to remain calm and manage my pain. As soon as they arrived,
they gave me pain relief and soon after told me that my leg had been set.
“I’m looking forward to getting started on this challenge so that I can give back to a great charity that did so much for me when I really needed it.”
Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is the local charity that provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for Northern Ireland, together with partners at the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS).
The service operates seven days a week for 12 hours per day and costs £5,500 a day to run.
From its base near Lisburn, the air ambulance can reach any part of Northern Ireland in approximately 25 minutes. Its primary role is to deliver advanced care, benefitting those whose lives are at serious risk following significant injury or trauma, by bringing urgent medical assistance directly to the patient at the scene.
Kerry Anderson, head of fundraising for AANI, said: “We are extremely grateful to have Damian taking part in our 3 Peaks Challenge to support Air Ambulance NI.
“This challenge is a big undertaking and we know how much Damian has been doing to prepare for it. We appreciate all his efforts and wish him the best of luck.”
To find out more about the charity, or how you can get involved in the Three Peaks Challenge visit Air Ambulance Northern Ireland’s Facebook page, visit https://www.airambulanceni.org/3-peaks-challenge/ or call 028 9262 2677.