Appeal launched for tanker crash driver who was seriously injured in Beauly High Street last month – a CT scan at Raigmore Hospital has revealed he has a brain tumour and the GoFundMe page has raised more than £5,000 in just one day
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Donations have flooded in for the driver whose tanker crashed into an empty shop in Beauly High Street last month.
Initially the man's injuries were treated at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where a CT scan revealed that he had a brain tumour.
The news instantly turned the lives of his family upside down and an online appeal has since been set up with donations totalling in excess of £5,000 in just one day.
A family spokesman said that he was transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where staff carried out a biopsy to identify the type of tumour.
The spokesman said: "Unfortunately during the biopsy it resulted in the driver being left paralysed on the right hand side of his body and his speech has also been affected.
"He then took a clot where they had to partially remove the top part of his skull due to swelling. He spent a week in ICU then a high dependency ward in Aberdeen."
The stay at the Aberdeen hospital has meant that his pregnant wife, whose baby is due in February, incurred unexpected expenses when she was there for visits and in case of emergencies.
He was transferred back to Raigmore Hospital on October 15 for further rehabilitation – once results of biopsy are returned he is due to start chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumour and a metal plate fitted to his skull.
The spokesman said: "We are all hopeful he will make a good recovery as his first baby is due in February. If and when he is well enough to return home this will mean a significant change to daily life, which is why the family launched this GoFundMe appeal to hope for donations to assist him in terms of care, equipment and living modifications."
He added that the driver wished to pass on his thanks to everyone who was there and helped him on the day.
The dramatic crash was shortly after midday on Thursday, September 16, when the oil delivery vehicle careered down Croyard Road before ploughing into the former Co-op shop in Beauly Square.
A total of 14 fire engines were sent to the scene with one casualty able to walk away from the accident while a second had to be cut free from the tanker.
The vehicle was removed by 7pm that evening after emergency services had made sure the building was safe by putting props in place to support it.
At the time one eye witness said the driver "was a hero" because he had steered the tanker into an empty shop and away from busier areas such as a nearby car park.
• For more information and to make a donation visit here.
