Clare Footballer Flown Home After Accident In Portugal

News - Local

Friday, 18 November 2011 13:22

Written by Pat Flynn

A 35-year-old former inter-county footballer who sustained serious injuries in a fall from an apartment in Portugal, is continuing his recovery in a Dublin hospital after being flown back to Ireland.

Declan O'Shea, a married man from Kilrush, Co Clare, was critically injured when he fell from the third floor of an apartment complex during a weekend visit to Portugal last month.

Mr O'Shea, who played football for his county at both minor and senior level in the 90's, has been flown back to Ireland by air ambulance where he is continuing his treatment at the Mater Hospital in Dublin.

Mr O'Shea, who was also a member of the Kilmihil team which won the Clare senior B football final for the first time in 2009, remained sedated in hospital for four weeks, so serious were the injuries he sustained.

The popular west Clare man had travelled to Portugal with two friends for a motor sport event. Mr O'Shea, who has a keen interest in the sport, works with his father Oliver in the family garage business in Kilrush.

It is understood that he had fallen asleep in an armchair after arriving at the apartment complex after his flight and at some point fell from the balcony. It is thought that he may have been sleep-walking even though a close friend said he had no history of doing so.

After Mr O'Shea was discovered lying seriously injured outside the apartment block, he was initially rushed to hospital in Faro before being airlifted to Lisbon for further more specialist treatment.

Mr O'Shea's wife Helena, flew out to Portugal along with two cousin's of the injured man, as soon they heard of the accident.

Declan's father Oliver also travelled to Portugal to be by his son's side. It is understood that the injured man's mother was too distressed to make the journey.

A family friend said: "Declan was lying in a hospital bed for 4 weeks in Portugal and he is improving slowly. He had pneumonia which is almost completely gone now and his family are glad that he is at least back in Ireland now. We still can't believe this has happened."

It's understood that Mr O'Shea's return to Ireland had been delayed because there was no bed immediately available for him.

Kilmihil GAA club vice-president Mr Tom Downes said: "It's good news for the family that Declan is now back in Ireland in hospital and while he is seriously hurt, we are all praying and hoping that he will make a good recovery."

The club recently organised a special mass for Declan which was attended by hundreds of friends as well as current and past team members.