Fellow pilot from Newcastle injured.

Graeme · Post by **Graeme** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:17 pm

I was in Ager last week with my good buddy Anth Braidford from Forest Hall. We both had a great week until Friday morning when Anth landed hard and broke his right foot badly.

Anth passed his CP a couple of years ago when working for grasmere YHA. He then moved over to the Alps where he worked as a driver and flew whenever he could. He returned home a couple of months ago then after a week or so flying over in Georgia he returned back home to Newcastle again and has been flying mainly with me, Gordon, Graeme G and Angus whenever he got the chance.

He was going to formally join NHPC this week after the week in Ager. Before Ager Anth completed his mandatory UK heavy goods safety course and was looking forward to working as a driver over the summer but has unfortunately broken his foot badly. A few hours after his accident on Friday morning last week he had an emergency op on his foot in Tremp hospital. He had multiple metatarsal fractures and bone fragments and the front of his foot was pushed into the back of it. They reshaped his foot and inserted 4 or 5 pins to keep it in place advising him to seek further advice from NHS. With the help of everyone concerned and J&S he managed to get a flight to Manchester the next day where I picked him up and took him home.

He's now been assessed by the NHS and awaits their diagnosis. It's possible he needs another op but has been told it's a complex injury and he's going no where for at least 2 months during which he can't weight bear, work or walk. The longer term outcome remains uncertain.

Anths a good lad, one of us, works hard to fund his adventures and is as keen a pilot as anyone - who in my view has been nothing but unlucky with this injury.

All his plans are now in a tatters and as you can imagine he's gutted this has happened at such a time.

So to show him some support can we set up a one off online donation for him?. He's truly hit hard times and I'm sure if a few of us can donate a tenner he'll appreciate this very much and spend it on his basic needs. I also hope such a gesture will galvanise his faith in the paragliding community - after all we are all fellow pilots chasing the same dream of free flight.

I'm not sure how best to go about setting this up but wonder if using the NHPC bank account t would be the best way?

Gordon C · Post by **Gordon C** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 6:48 pm

i've a spare tenner, or a bottle of whisky to easy the pain.
bad luck anth get fit soon,

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:47 pm

Speedy recovery Anth where do I send the money Graeme

Graeme Gilroy · Post by **Graeme Gilroy** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 10:28 pm

Nothing worse than being laid up injured, Jeremy Kyle is enough to kill anyone off, il certainly donate something.

Graeme

Graeme · Post by **Graeme** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 11:04 pm

i was hoping the club account could be used to collect a whip-round then total proceeds at say end of this month are transferred to Anths account?

Should be a simple enough online process using a bank payment reference of something like 'Anth?

Or if you prefer cash maybe you could give it to someone who will it by bank transfer on your behalf?

Club then sends total onto Anth at end of month.

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 11:08 pm

Get his account details and it goes straight in I wouldn't complicate it with club accounts he'll never get it.

berow · Post by **berow** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 11:21 pm

Good idea, bank transfer is easiest.

bill-scott · Post by **bill-scott** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 11:43 pm

sorry to hear about his bad luck if you can get his bank details ill push a tenner in his direction

Graeme · Post by **Graeme** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 11:21 am

Typically Anth was a bit unsure about receiving an online whip round but has eventually gratefully accepted that any donations made will help towards his immediate basic needs.

His bank account details are hsbc 40-34-18 / acc number 92109190.

Below is a photo of the pins in his foot before it was put in a cast and the other picture is of a brace he'd like to buy (approx. £100 on ebay) that is unavailable on the NHS.

Anth has a severe Lisfrank foot injury - not good - it will take a while for it to be right again. http://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0701/p118.html

berow · Post by **berow** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 1:00 pm

Get well soon fella.

AnthBraid · Post by **AnthBraid** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:46 am

Hello
I'd like to thank everyone for there support and very kind donations to my cause. I did buy an 'I-Walk' as pictured above, and it has made a quantum leap for me in terms of being able to get around the house and generally look after myself.
I was back in hospital yesterday with no real news, apart from - next week the pins will be removed and I'm guessing a scan to see whats going on.
As someone who pretty much lives for any sort of outdoor activity this is fairly tough. But it could always be worse!
Can't wait to get airborne again