A teenager hurt in a harness racing accident has kick-started a fundraising drive for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) after they flew to his rescue.
Logan Fowler, 18, from Stirling, Scotland, was injured while taking part in the annual harness race meeting at Holme Farm, Appleby-in-Westmorland, on May 24.
Logan, one of the Scottish Harness Racing Club’s (SHRC) youngest members, said: “It was the first time I had taken my horse, Funtime Frankie, out of Scotland to race and I was all kitted out in my brand new racing colours. Going into the first turn during the race, the horse in front of me slipped and as there was nowhere to go, we collided with it. My foot got caught in the stirrup and we flipped, I tried to grab my horse before he ran off but was unable to get up and I knew straight away that something was broken.
“The paramedics that were first on the scene cut me out of my colours and the air ambulance was called for.”
GNAAS attended the scene and he was treated by the aircrew on board the aircraft before being taken to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, by North West Ambulance Service.
Logan continued: “An urgent call came through and the air ambulance had to leave so the road crew took me to the hospital in Carlisle. Following X-rays, I was told that I had broken my right hip, but thankfully my knee was only swollen and bruised. The following day I underwent a two and a half hour operation to have a metal plate and two screws put into my hip. I stayed in Carlisle for a few days until I was ready to go home. All in all, I had 22 staples as well as the plate and screws.
“My horse Frankie was thankfully unhurt, and has since been racing at my local track, Corbiewood. I am able to walk using crutches so have been able to stand in the winner’s enclosure but wish I was the one driving him.”
Logan and his family along with SHRC members, Sarah Thomas and Nicola McGregor, raised funds at the following week’s meeting at Holme Farm, Appleby, on May 31, and at Corbiewood Stadium, Bannockburn, on June 5. They raised £625 in total.
Sarah Thomas, SHRC vice chairman said: “This was collected as a gesture of thanks for a worthwhile cause which was ready and willing to transport Logan to hospital, and many of the owners, trainers, spectators, commentators and bookmakers who donated at the two meetings had stories to tell of the good work done by air ambulances across the UK.”
Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS said: “We want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in the fundraising. We could not continue to operate without support like this and we are truly grateful to those who have helped to keep our aircraft in the sky.”
Share
