Family of Co Derry man '˜haven't stopped praying' since accident

Dean Doherty (26) from Limavady suffered spinal injuries five weeks ago after coming off his scrambler at a track in Magilligan.

He was subsequently airlifted to Belfast where he underwent surgery at The Royal Victoria Hospital. Earlier this week, Dean was transferred to Musgrave Park Hospital.

“We are hoping he will improve,” said Dean’s mum, Christine.

“We haven’t stopped praying since but then you see other people in hospital and they’re worse than Dean and you think, ‘at least Dean can talk to us, at least he’s here’.

“Things are much the same, but we hope over the next three weeks we’ll know more.”

The Doherty family say they have been overwhelmed with support since Dean’s accident and want to thank everyone for their support, including neighbours, Dean’s friends and Monsignor Bryan McCanny, for visiting Dean in hospital.

“I don’t think we would have got through this without them, to be honest,” said Christine. “People have been so good. Dean is in the best hands and we hope we will know soon if he has a chance of being able to walk.