Brave five year-old recovering at home after collision

A VERY brave five-year old boy from Omagh is now resting at home watching his favourite TV shows after breaking his leg in three places last week.

Shea Fox was jumping over puddles on the roadway at Highfields when he hit the side of a car before falling. The wheel of the vehicle then went over his leg, causing the unfortunate injuries for the young pupil of St Ronan’s in Recarson.

But Shea, a ‘mad keen’ follower of football, hurling and rugby, was more worried about missing out on playing his favourite sports as he was being taken first to the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex and then to Altnagelvin in Derry.

His father, Gerard, a hurler and PRO with Omagh St Enda’s GAA, told the UlsterHerald, how messages from a whole host of GAA stars from across Ireland, have been helping Shea in the past week.

“After the accident, we took Shea into the house and he seemed to think that the leg would heal after a few hours on the sofa. But then we saw the foot flopping he bravely decided that it would be best to go and get it checked out,” Mr Fox said.

“His main worry was whether he’d be ever able to play sport again. So, we got in contact with a few players who have been sending him short video messages reassuring him that they, too, have recovered from serious injuries in the past and that there’s nothing to worry about.

“Tyrone and Omagh players, Conor Meyler and Ronan O’Neill visited him, and he has had messages from Armagh manager, Kieran McGeeney, and several of the players, as well as Ronan McNamee of Tyrone, Conor Murphy, Joey Holden and Jackie Tyrell from Kilkenny, Neil McManus from Antrim, Chrissy McKaigue from Derry, Nicky Quaid from Limerick, Noel McGrath from Tipp and former Tyrone star, Joe McMahon.

“The footballers and hurlers from Omagh have been just amazing, and the club sent him a hamper full of club gear.

“At the moment, Shea’s really enjoying relaxing, but that might change in the next few weeks when he sees his friends out playing and he’s not able to.”

Mr Fox and his wife Jane have expressed their thanks to the staff of the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex and Altnagelvin Hospital, as well as Damien Woodhead, who looked after their other son, Caolan.

Young Shea underwent surgery on the leg last Thursday, before making a welcome return home. He is likely to be in a cast until the end of July, but the good news is that he has age on his side and should be soon able to join his friends at hurling and football training before too long!