Schoolgirl Left Fighting for Life After Paraglider Crash in Turkey
A teenage girl from Chester-le-Street faces life-changing surgery after a terrifying accident in Turkey. Lily Nichol was struck by a paraglider in Oludeniz, leaving her with devastating spinal injuries and piling up medical bills worth tens of thousands of pounds.
Horror Crash at Beachside Restaurant
Lily, who was on holiday with her mum Lyndsey Logan and sister Meggan, was enjoying a meal when disaster struck. The paraglider smashed into her, breaking her spine in four places. The impact was so severe Lyndsey feared she had lost her daughter for good.
“The paraglider’s feet hit Lily’s back, knocking over the table and causing her to face-plant onto the ground,” Lyndsey told ITV Tyne Tees. “We had to resuscitate her. She was unconscious until she got to hospital and woke up thinking it was all a dream.”
Serious Injuries and Massive Medical Costs
Lily’s injuries are horrendous: multiple spinal fractures, a broken jaw, fractured collarbone, broken ribs, plus severe cuts to her tongue and face. She now risks losing her eyesight and has lost all her teeth. With no insurance cover, the family faces an uphill battle to pay for treatment.
A fundraising page has already raised over £35,000, while local communities in the North East have rallied with events to help the family.
“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,” said Lyndsey.
Calls for Tougher Paragliding Safety Laws in Turkey
The tragedy sheds light on the lack of safety regulations for paragliders in Turkey. Marc Asquith from the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association explained Oludeniz is a hotspot for the sport due to its stunning mountains. However, Turkish rules don’t require pilots to hold licenses or have insurance.
“British pilots usually carry insurance for incidents like this,” said Asquith, “but the pilot wasn’t British, so no cover applied.” Members of the UK paragliding community are donating to Lily’s fund.
The Association is urging Turkish authorities to introduce separate landing zones away from public areas to stop such shocking collisions happening again.
