Oisin Merritt got to kick a football again on Friday
BY CHRIS MCNULTY
OISIN Merritt took the latest steps in his miracle recovery from a life-threatening fall in Spain as he got to kick a football for the first time since his freak accident on Friday.
The 19-year-old Stranorlar man, who played for Finn Harps Reserves, sustained serious head injures after he fell from a balcony while on holiday in Mallorca on June 9th.
He spent a number of weeks in an induced coma and his condition was said to have been ‘grave’ at one stage. His parents, Gary and Rose, and his girlfriend, Josephine O’Neill, flew out to Spain and maintained a bedside vigil. After his brain pressure readings reduced to stable numbers, Oisin was transported back to Donegal last month to continue his rehabilitation.
On Friday, a photograph and video showing Oisin doing kick-ups with a ball were posted on his Facebook page and generated in excess of 1,000 ‘likes’.
Oisin played in the Ulster Senior League with the Finn Harps Reserves having previously turned out for the club’s Under-19 team. Harps spokesman Aidan Campbell said the club have invited Oisin to attend a League of Ireland game at Finn Park and hope that he is in a position to do so before the end of the season.
“It’s so heart warming to see Oisin with a football at his feet again,” Mr Campbell told the Donegal News.
“I’ve been in contact with Oisin and he’s such a positive guy. It’s incredible what he has come through. You can see the reaction to it on social media, people are so touched by his story.
“He’s obviously got a long way to go in his recovery, but it’s great to see him doing so well so soon.”
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