POLOCROSSE player Shane Harris says the Irish Community Rapid Response Air Ambulance was the difference between him surviving and not surviving after a horror fall last June.

The 31-year-old was riding near his home in Fethard, Co Tipperary, when the animal reared up and fell back on top of him, crushing him to the horror of his partner, Kim Ronan, who was watching with her father and two brothers.

And now, Kim and her family are all taking on Marching through March 10,000 steps a day challenge to thank the Air Ambulance service. The challenge is part of the “Further Faster” campaign to help raise the €1.5 million needed this year to fund the service and its new air ambulance helicopter.

Airlifted

Writing on the ICRR Air Ambulance social media, Harris said: “I was out riding one of my polocrosse horses and he reared up which was totally out of character for him. He fell back on top of me, crushing me. I was knocked unconscious once I hit the ground but Kim raised the alarm and the air ambulance arrived and landed near me.

“They took the decision to airlift me to Cork University Hospital and they got me down there in about 25 minutes. I got a blood transfusion when I arrived in the hospital because I had sustained some internal bleeding as well as two punctured lungs, eight broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

“The internal bleeding was a big problem because my lungs were filling with blood so they had to clear that out. I was on drains for a good while and I had a couple of operations as well to clear my lungs but thankfully I made a good recovery and I’m fine now – 95% right – as good as I can be.”

Shane said the ICRR air ambulance saved his life. “They definitely saved my life and not just my life. There would be plenty of people dead last year but for them – they are a vital service and they do a great job.”