'Delighted' €60K raised for Dublin man left paralysed after mountain bike accident

The family of a Dublin man who was left paralysed after a mountain biking accident are appealing for donations to help pay for his medical care.

Eoghan Gorman fractured his spine on a biking trail last October and was put into an induced coma and on a life support machine, later underdoing emergency spinal surgery.

For many weeks, he couldn’t breathe by himself and was told he may never come off the ventilator.

He is now paralysed below his shoulders with no upper or lower body control and is continuing treatment in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.

Eoghan will need constant care and his house will need to be adapted to suit his needs before he arrives home in the coming months.

His family have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the costs of his upcoming treatments.

The fundraiser has already raised €60,825 since it was created just 4 days ago, which the family are blown away by.

“The family are absolutely delighted with the response, it's been a very tough time for them and the support from so many people helps keep them strong and positive,” a family friend told RSVP Live.

The friend also gave an update on Eoghan’s condition and said he is “doing well.”

“He has just recently been moved from the Mater hospital to the national rehabilitation hospital in Dún Laoghaire so still very early in his rehabilitation programme,” they said.

“At the moment this involves daily programmes of exercise in specialised equipment. He will stay here for a few months before coming home. He has no control below his shoulders, and is learning to use various tools such as voice control.

“He is a very positive and focused young man. His involvement in martial arts and kickboxing from a young age has helped him as he has learned to stay motivated and positive,” they said.

“He has been determined since the beginning to do everything he can to improve.”

Donations can be made to Eoghan’s fundraiser here.