Latest news with #EdOBrien
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Leeds United fan who fell from tree praises hospital staff
A Leeds United fan who was seriously injured when he fell out of a tree during the club's promotion parade has said he has been "overwhelmed" by the support he has O'Brien, 23, from York, suffered life-threatening injuries during the celebrations in Millennium Square on 5 was in a coma for a week, and has spent almost a month in O'Brien said in a post on X he "wanted to thank everyone" who had wished him well and praised the hospital staff who have been treating him. Speaking to the BBC after her son woke from his coma, his mother Stacey Barker said staff at Leeds General Infirmary had "worked what I can only describe as a miracle".Now on the road to recovery, Mr O'Brien gave his own thanks."You don't get many characters these days but I also want to say - LGI, St Jimmy's hospitals - the staff have been superb," he said."They have saved my life and I'll never stop being grateful. Boy do they put in some hard work." Mr O'Brien wrote he still "had a way to go" but was doing "very well" and everything was on the "right path"."Just want to thank everyone who has wished me well, I truly am overwhelmed," he said he had read some "very lovely things", but also addressed what prompted his accident and some of the comments on social media about the incident."They're fair enough, I can promise I won't be climbing any trees anytime soon," he wrote."I was drunk and happy, made a daft decision." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leeds United fan wakes from coma after promotion parade tree fall
A Leeds United fan who was seriously injured when he fell out of a tree during the club's promotion parade has woken from his coma, his mum O'Brien, 23, from York, suffered life-threatening injuries during the celebrations in Millennium Square on 5 Barker said her son had woken up on Monday and thanked those who had looked after him at Leeds General Infirmary, saying they had "worked what I can only describe as a miracle".A fundraiser begun by Leeds United fans since the incident has reached almost £15,000, with Ms Barker adding: "The response we have received from the Leeds United family has been nothing short of phenomenal." Ms Barker said: "As his parents, we have felt wholeheartedly supported by his extended football family and I'm more than sure, in the coming weeks, Edward himself will appreciate the outpouring of love and concern for his wellbeing from his Leeds described her son waking up as "the development they had hoped and prayed for".She told the BBC: "It is clear he has a long way to go just now but, for the first time since the initial prognosis was delivered, we feel more than confident that Edward stands a fantastic chance of a very good recovery. "It is more than any of us ever dared to hope only eight days ago. "The relief we feel is simply indescribable, we couldn't be any happier right now."Paying tribute to the the health professionals at Leeds General Infirmary who treated her son she said: "In a thousand lifetimes, we could never convey our gratitude to you all in supporting us in getting to this point, nor repay the debt we, as a family, owe the LGI."We are still uncertain what the future holds for Edward but, as a family, we are more than confident with the love of the majority and the expertise of the remarkable professionals looking after him, he will continue to amaze us all for many months to come." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Leeds fan in a coma after falling from a tree during club's raucous promotion celebrations - with US sport star donating £2K to help his family
A Leeds fan is believed to be fighting for his life in hospital after falling from a tree during the club's Championship-winning celebrations this week. Daniel Farke 's side booked their spot in the Premier League with the latest of goals against Plymouth courtesy of Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon striking deep in stoppage time. The Yorkshire club knew only a win would suffice in a race for the trophy with Burnley due to their superior goal difference, with both teams finishing on an impressive 100 points. Leeds then took their celebration to the streets on Monday, with over 150,000 fans turning out for the club's trophy parade. But as fans crammed the streets and scaled lampposts, traffic lights, and bus stops for a glimpse of their promotion heroes, tragedy struck in the midst of the festivities. Ed O'Brien is thought to have fallen from a tree in Millennium Square while taking part in the parade, with the 23-year-old promptly rushed to hospital. A JustGiving page was launched in the wake of his serious injury, with a friend stating that O'Brien was 'fighting for his life' and in a coma. The page has already exceeded its £70 target, raising a staggering £10,801 at the time of climbing. Among those who have donated are a slew of Leeds United supporters - including one big sporting name. Atlanta Hawks star Larry Nance Jr contributed £2,000, sharing a thoughtful message: 'Thinking of you. Strength and love!' The basketball ace is an investor in the 49ers Enterprises group that makes up the club's ownership, and by default an enormous fan of the side. As per the Sun, O'Brien's mother Stacey Barker has been keen to stress that her was not out of control when the tragic accident took place. 'As far as I am aware, he had consumed alcohol, but I am confident he wasn't paralytic as some posts are suggesting,' Barker wrote. 'I am also as confident as a mother can be that no other substance was involved.' Barker also told the BBC: 'Ed and his siblings are incredibly close and they're feeling his absence acutely, as are his dad and I.' O'Brien, who turned 23 last week, is currently being treated at Leeds General Infirmary. Barker confirmed that O'Brien had undergone surgery, but that potential damage to his brain was currently unclear. 'We wanted to minimise the countless untruths which are currently circulating around Ed's condition and also to urge people to consider what they are writing on social media for Ed's loved ones to see,' Barker said. 'We are going through one of the worst things a parent can go through and some of the unwarranted comments are further compounding our heartache as a family. 'Ed is just a young man who made a mistake and he's paying for it dearly.' Barker also told the broadcaster that the family is travelling from their home in York to Leeds two to four times a day to spend as much time with their son and brother as possible. 'We're holding onto every hope that our son and brother comes out of this as unscathed as possible, given his injuries,' she added. 'As yet, there is little improvement in his condition. He remains in a coma, but the fantastic team looking after him are confident he is showing some positive signs.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Son in coma after Leeds United promotion parade tree fall
A Leeds United fan who was seriously injured when he fell out of the tree he was in as he watched the team's promotion parade remains in a critical condition in a coma, his mum has O'Brien, whose parents live in York, suffered life-threatening injuries during celebrations in Millennium Square on Monday and was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for O'Brien, who celebrated his 23rd birthday last week, had since undergone an operation but as of yet, the damage to his brain was unclear, his mum Stacey Barker Barker told the BBC: "Ed and his siblings are incredibly close and they're feeling his absence acutely, as are his dad and I." A fundraiser set up for Mr O'Brien had hit over £10,000, with NBA star and Leeds United investor Larry Nance donating £2,000, she said. Speaking to the BBC, Ms Barker expressed concerns over some comments which had been made online about the circumstances surrounding Mr O'Brien's media posts had been "extremely distressing" for the entire family, she said."We wanted to minimise the countless untruths which are currently circulating around Ed's condition and also to urge people to consider what they are writing on social media for Ed's loved ones to see," Ms Barker said."We are going through one of the worst things a parent can go through and some of the unwarranted comments are further compounding our heartache as a family. "Ed is just a young man who made a mistake and he's paying for it dearly." Earlier, on social media, Ms Barker had explained that her son had "climbed a tree, he'd had a few bottles, he was high on nothing but life - and he's been incredibly unlucky".She said her son had suffered "a freak accident that is likely to affect him, and all of us, whatever the outcome, for many years to come"."Any recovery at all from this incident is likely to be a slow and lengthy process and is unlikely to be without implications," she Barker told the BBC the family was currently travelling to and from Leeds two to four times a day to spend as much time as possible with Mr O'Brien."We're holding onto every hope that our son and brother comes out of this as unscathed as possible, given his injuries," she said. "As yet, there is little improvement in his condition. He remains in a coma, but the fantastic team looking after him are confident he is showing some positive signs." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Leeds fan fighting for his life in coma after falling from tree in title celebrations as NBA star donates £2000 to help
A LEEDS supporter is fighting for his life in hospital after falling from a tree during their title celebrations. Thousands of fans lined the streets on Monday for an open-top bus parade after the club secured promotion back to the Premier League. 3 3 But disaster struck when supporter Ed O'Brien fell from a tree in Millennium Square. The 23-year-old was rushed to hospital and is now in a coma. A JustGiving page was launched in support Ed's brave fight and a whopping £10,000 has so far been raised, smashing the £750 target. Basketball star Larry Nance Jr has donated £2,000 to the cause. Along with the cash, he wrote: "Thinking of you. Strength and love!" The Atlanta Hawks ace is a huge Leeds supporter and an investor in the 49ers Enterprises group that own the club. Ed's mum Stacey Barker wrote online: "As far as I am aware, he had consumed alcohol but I am confident he wasn't paralytic as some posts are suggesting. "I am also as confident as a mother can be that no other substance was involved." She added that his recovery is set to be a "slow and lengthy process" and "unlikely to be without implications". The JustGiving page reads: "To Support Ed O'Brien and his family after Ed sadly fell out of a tree when celebrating Leeds winning the league on Monday and now is sadly fighting for his life in hospital. "His mum and dad both live in York and at this time it will be costing them both a lot in travel and time off work. "I am just hoping we can all raise some money to take that stress away from them. MOT stay strong Ed." 3
