By VICTORIA O’HARA
A NORTHERN Ireland man who cheated death after plummeting to earth when a skydive in America went wrong has revealed how messages of support have given him strength to recover.
Paul McMahon suffered multiple injuries after hitting the ground from over 100 feet during a jump in California two weeks ago. He smashed both legs, crushed his pelvis and lost six pints of blood.
Paul, from Castlederg in Co Tyrone, lay unconscious in hospital for three days on a life support machine after the accident.
Towards the end of the skydive the parachute twisted and turned.
“All I remember was once I hit the ground people were running around me,” he said.
“I knew then that I must have been seriously injured as they had phoned for the ambulance. I knew I had a lot of pain in my legs.
“My memories are a bit sketchy after that. I remember feeling a lot of pain while in hospital in America.”
Paul, an experienced skydiver, said he had been looking forward to the jump.
“I was heading towards my 100th jump, that was my 97th,” he said.
“I was looking forward to it, and had spent a lot getting over to America to do it.
“I wouldn’t say it was a miracle (I survived), it was more of a mistake, but I don’t think I will ever get back in a plane to skydive.”
Paul is now in the Royal Victoria Hospital and has so far undergone three operations.
He faces at least another four weeks in the RVH and months of rehabilitation.
“I would like to be transferred to Altnagelvin soon. It would be closer to family and friends, it is hard for them to come and visit as much as they would like.”
He said the many messages of support from across the world has helped him stay positive.
“I just want to thank everyone for their letters, cards, prayers and messages of support. And all the people who visit, they have given me strength.”
Father Victor (60), who makes the 90-mile journey to his son’s bedside, said he’s hopeful for his full recovery.
“We are just thankful he is with us. We would like to have Paul transferred to Altnagelvin as all the travelling to Belfast is hard. There are nights when I have just stayed overnight, rather than travel the 90 miles.
“It has been tough, Paul’s mum has recently been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy, but we are all just trying to stay positive and looking to the future.”
(c) 2008 Belfast Telegraph. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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