Latest news with #StaceyBarker
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.
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.
