Warren Lynch from Drumquin, Co Tyrone alongside his family, friends and the wider community have raised £18,945 for Air Ambulance NI, funding that will keep the helicopter flying for over two days.
The Lynch and Forbes families raised the funds through a group skydive on 18th July, a charity darts night and a lemonade sale organised by pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School in Drumquin. Their fundraising followed Warren’s need for the service after he was involved in a single-vehicle road traffic collision.
In the early hours of 14th March 2026, Warren’s car left the road outside Omagh, and he wasn’t discovered until a few hours later by a passerby. Due to the severity of the incident, emergency services including Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) and PSNI were tasked to the scene who then requested the interventions of the HEMS via air ambulance.
Warren had sustained critical injuries across his entire body including a diffuse axonal brain injury, bleeding on the brain, multiple fractures, severe injuries to his scalp and ear, abdominal injuries and two collapsed lungs. After Warren was released from the car by the NIFRS and treated at the scene by medics, he was transported to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast by air ambulance where he spent 4 weeks recovering before returning home.
Warren pictured alongside helicopter engineer John Calvin and Air Ambulance NI pilot, Richard Steele.
Monica Lynch, Warren’s mum, said, “From the moment I received that phone call, our whole world was turned upside down. In an instant, everything changed. But through the darkest moments of our lives, we were surrounded by the most incredible people and for that we will be forever grateful.
“A very special thank you goes to Noel Bradley, who found Warren that morning. We will never forget everything you did for our son. Your quick actions, courage and kindness will stay with our family forever. To the NIFRS, NIAS, the PSNI and HEMS team, thank you for everything you did at the scene. Your professionalism, compassion and teamwork gave Warren the very best chance when every second mattered. We will be forever grateful for your incredible efforts.
“To the amazing teams at the Royal Victoria Hospital, thank you for never giving up on our son. Warren sustained multiple serious and life-threatening injuries, but because of your skill, dedication and outstanding care, he is making an incredible recovery.
“We would also like to thank the OTS Brain Injury Team, the ENT team, the Major Trauma consultants, the physiotherapy team, the hand therapy team, and every doctor, nurse, therapist and member of staff who has been part of Warren’s recovery. Warren still attends hospital several times each week for appointments and your continued support, care, patience and encouragement have helped him come so far. Every appointment and every milestone is another step forward because of the incredible people who continue to stand beside him.
“A very special thank you also goes to both mine and Warren’s daddy’s families and Warren’s friends. From the very beginning, you never left our side. You have carried us through the darkest days, celebrated every small victory with us, and continued to support us every step of this journey. Your love, strength and unwavering support have meant more than words could ever express. Without you all, I honestly don’t know where we would be, and we will never stop being grateful for everything you have done for us.
“We would also like to say a huge thank you to the amazing P7 girls who worked so hard to raise an incredible £600 for Air Ambulance NI. We are so proud of each and every one of you. Your kindness, compassion and generosity at such a young age are truly inspiring. Thank you for choosing to support a cause that means so much to our family. You should all be incredibly proud of yourselves.
There are simply no words that could ever repay every single person who played a part in saving Warren’s life. You gave our family hope during the darkest time imaginable, and that is something we will carry with us forever.
This fundraiser is our way of giving something back to Air Ambulance NI, their helicopter is equipped with everything that an Intensive Care Unit has and they also can carry out surgery if needed, it’s unbelievable what these people can do when it’s needed. I can’t express how important it is for people to get behind and support this charity as it takes a staggering £8,200 in fundraising per day to run. We know we can never repay what you have done for Warren, but we hope this fundraiser can help ensure that these life-saving and life-changing services continue to be there for other families when they need them most. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has supported us, donated, shared our fundraiser and stood beside our family. Every act of kindness, no matter how big or small, has helped us through the hardest chapter of our lives.”
Damien McAnespie, Fundraising Manager for Air Ambulance NI, “Warren and his entire family have been through the most unimaginably difficult six months since his accident. However, the progress he has made in that time is down to the work of all the doctors and nurses under his care and the close-knit positive support from his parents, girlfriend, family, friends and the community of Drumquin. The Lynch and Forbes families support for Air Ambulance NI during this time has been incredible and is reflective of their positivity and wanting to help others who may also need the air ambulance. Their huge donation will fund the service for over two days, potentially saving the lives of four people who experience a serious traumatic accident or medical incident. Thank you to them all and to those who supported in any way. We wish Warren all the best in his ongoing recovery from his accident.”
Air Ambulance NI, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service for Northern Ireland. Operating seven days a week for 12 hours each day, the service brings urgent medical care to people who are seriously ill or injured across the province. The HEMS team delivers emergency pre-hospital care directly to the scene, with the aim of saving lives, brains and limbs. The aircraft can reach anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately twenty-five minutes.
On average, the medical team is called out twice every day to incidents including serious road traffic collisions, farm or workplace accidents, sport and leisure incidents, and serious medical emergencies. Since its inception in July 2017, the medical team has been tasked 5,731 times. As a local charity, Air Ambulance NI must raise £3 million each year to maintain and sustain the service, making public donations vital. Members of the public can also have their name displayed on the charity’s new helicopter later this year for a donation of £200. Find out more at www.airambulanceni.org , email info@airambulanceni.org , or call 028 9262 2677.
