A schoolgirl from Chester-le-Street is set to undergo extensive surgery after being struck by a paraglider in Turkey, an incident that left her with severe injuries and medical bills totalling tens of thousands of pounds.
Lily Nichol, who had been on holiday in Oludeniz with her mother Lyndsey Logan and sister Meggan, was enjoying a meal at a beachside restaurant when a paraglider crashed into her, breaking her spine in four places. The impact was so severe that her mother initially feared she had died.
Lyndsey described the harrowing moment, saying the paraglider’s feet struck Lily’s back, knocking over the table and causing Lily to face-plant into the ground. “We had to resuscitate her,” Lyndsey told ITV Tyne Tees. “She was unconscious until she got to the hospital and woke up thinking it was all a dream.”
Lily’s injuries include multiple spinal fractures, a broken jaw, a fractured collarbone, broken ribs, and severe lacerations to her tongue and face, leaving her at risk of losing her eyesight and without any teeth. With no insurance coverage, the family faces overwhelming medical expenses.
A fundraising page set up to help cover Lily’s treatment has so far raised over £35,000. Community members and supporters in the North East have also organized fundraising events to support the family.
Expressing gratitude, Lyndsey said, “I can’t thank everyone enough for their support. We couldn’t have done it without you. Now, my only focus is on getting her better and bringing her home.”
The family’s ordeal has also drawn attention to the lack of safety regulations in Turkish paragliding. Marc Asquith from the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association noted that Oludeniz is a popular spot for the sport due to its mountainous landscape. However, Turkish regulations do not require pilots to be licensed or insured, unlike in the UK.
Asquith added that British pilots would typically carry insurance to cover incidents like these, but as the pilot involved was reportedly not British, no such coverage applies. He mentioned that members of the British paragliding community have been donating to Lily’s fundraiser in light of the situation.
The association has since called for better safety measures in tourist-heavy areas like Oludeniz, suggesting that separate landing zones for paragliders and public spaces could help prevent such tragic accidents in the future.
