Long road to recovery ahead for Athlone firefighter

An Athlone firefighter who was seriously injured while on duty at a house fire in Mount Temple last month has been discharged from hospital and is continuing his recovery for the next two weeks in Esker Rí Nursing Home in Clara before returning home.

Patrick Berry, a father-of-three who lives with his partner Nicky Beaumont in Assumption Road, received extensive injuries when a gable wall collapsed on him while he was battling a fire at the home of Nigel and Lisa Grennan in Carn Park, Mount Temple on October 14 last.

He sustained multiple broken bones, as well as lacerations to his neck and tongue among others, and has already had one surgery on his leg.

Updating the Westmeath Independent on his progress on Tuesday (November 2), his partner Nicky confirmed that he was let out of Tullamore hospital on Monday to continue his recovery in a nursing home for the next two weeks.

He will need surgery on his clavicle, however, that cannot happen until his spine heals and Patrick is currently in a full upper body brace 24/7 for the next three months to allow the bones to knit back, she explains. It means, however, that he cannot do basic things like shower or shave without assistance.

“He has full breakages and fractures in his vertebrae (bones in his back). We're just hoping they knit back normally so he won't need surgery on it,” she said, adding that Patrick is still in a lot of pain every day, and has a long road ahead of him.

“The hospital wanted to get him home but the house wasn't adequate and I really had to fight to get him into a nursing home,” said Nicky on Tuesday.

Patrick was working on an extension to their kitchen which was half-built when the accident happened, and she is now trying to get that finished before he comes home so that it will be easier to get a wheelchair around.

His other injuries are healing well, but they all need time, she continued, adding that he will also require extensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy to gain strength and learn to walk again.

A GoFundMe appeal which was set up to help cover medical and home renovation costs arising from Patrick's injuries had already raised over €44,000 of its €50,000 target at the time of going to press (Tuesday).

Nicky, on behalf of Patrick and their families, thanked everybody for their continued generosity, and the many people who got in touch and have been so kind.

“There is so much support around the town. We can't believe it,” commented Nicky, who said she's keeping the fund there for the moment because they are not really sure what is ahead in terms of medical costs and necessary renovations to their home. “It's really comforting to know that it (the GoFundMe) is there. It take a lot of stress off us,” she told the Westmeath Independent on Tuesday, adding that she hopes Patrick will be well enough to attend the Christmas Cracker fundraiser organised on his behalf in Coosan Tavern on December 3.

“I just want to thank the whole town for their support and the fire stations all over the country who donated and got in touch. We even had donations from as faraway as Canada. I just want to thank everybody for every little donation, we're just delighted.

“We are just taking every day as it comes now because if you look too far ahead, you only get overwhelmed by it all,” added Nicky.

She is hopeful by Christmas Patrick will be much stronger, and the fact he is young and fit is in his favour, should stand to him in his recovery, as will his determination.

To support the GoFundMe appeal, you can find the page by Googling ‘Fireman Patrick Berry’s Support Fund’.