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3 months ago
25
A 15-year-old schoolboy who was left severely brain-damaged after flipping from a pier heartbreakingly looked his mother in the eye and begged for 'help' as he spoke for the first time since the accident.
Jack Dolan was left in a state where he could not move, speak or laugh after the tragedy on Margate pier in Kent on June 23.
The teen, who tried to jump the pier in front of his pals and girlfriend, 'overspun' and 'landed face first on the water'.
But after lying in a vegetative state for weeks, he is showing signs of improvement. Photos released by the family show his eyes open, as he is now regaining control of his arms and toes.
Jack, from Chatham, was flown to a London hospital where a scan revealed no brain activity. He was put on end-of-life care after having his life support taken away.
Jack Dolan (pictured) has spoken for the first time since his accident and is amazing doctors with his progress
Jack (pictured) was left in a state where he could not move, speak or laugh after the tragedy on June 23
Lying from his hospital bed, Jack heartbreakingly looked his mother in the eye and said 'help'
After lying in a vegetative state for weeks, Jack is showing signs of improvement
Jack's stepfather, David Dolan, told MailOnline: 'Jack is blowing everything the doctors said out of the water.
'He is moving his arms, wiggling his toes, holding eye contact and whilst in a lot of pain, he looked his mum in the eye and said 'help'.
'He has beaten a chest infection and re-inflated his collapsed lung with no medical intervention.
'We are putting him in experimental private treatment to see how much of Jack we can get back, so the goalposts have moved, the therapy is £8,000 and the tank for hyperbaric oxygen therapy to have in the home if it shows improvement is £38,000.
'We are doing all we can to fight for him.'
The family launched a fund-raising effort which has seen more than 1,000 supporters contributing more than £28,000.
Jack with his mother Lisa before the tragic accident off Margate Pier
He had done the move dozens of times before, most recently on holiday in Egypt in September (pictured), but this time he landed face first on the water
Jack's stepfather Dave said the jump from the Stone Pier (pictured) was three or four metres high but if Jack had landed a quarter rotation one way or the other he would probably have been fine
Jack's mother Lisa, an NHS worker, will be giving up her job to care for him full-time but doctors cannot say how long he will live.
Since the accident, Jack has suffered from heart issues and seizures along with a chest infection and a collapsed lung.
However, while his family expected the chest infection to claim the 15-year-old's life, he was able to fight it off with no medical intervention – even reinflating his lung by himself.
Mr Dolan also says with spots on his brain, Jack is likely to have a stroke at some point and has suffered two cardiac arrests.
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