Galway pool dive man flown home from Australia

A Galway man who sustained a serious spinal injury in a diving accident in Australia in January returned home to Ireland yesterday (Wednesday) – but he will remain in a Dublin hospital for months.

Twenty five years old Ryan Croker of Tooreeny, Moycullen, had just returned to Perth after a Christmas break in Moycullen when the accident happened.

He had moved into a new house with friends when he jumped into the swimming pool, which had a very low water level at the time.

Since then he has been in the Royal Perth Hospital and his mother Kathleen and sister Grace travelled to Australia to be by his side.

Yesterday, Ryan travelled on a regular airline from Perth via Dubai with his mum, cousin David and a nurse.

Ryan was paralysed in the accident and couldn’t be moved until now, though it was thought that he would have to be transported in a special medical aeroplane.

It was a poignant homecoming for him as he hadn’t seen his dad, Pat, or his brother Keith since Christmas. They and other family members were at Dublin Airport to welcome him home.

From there, he was brought to a Dublin hospital where he will stay until he is able to go to the National Rehabilitation Unit.

Ryan was an active member of the Maigh Cuilinn hurling club and the local GAA and the wider community rallied around in the past five months to raise a substantial amount of money for the Ryan Croker Benefit Fund.

This fund helped pay for his transportation and will help pay for his continued hospitalisation. Publican Con Dooley, who led the fundraising drive, praised the local community for their generosity.

Mr Dooley can be contacted on 087 795 9297 if anyone wishes to organise a fundraising event or donate to support the family.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune