£8000 MERCY FLIGHT APPEAL
THE sister of a woman stranded in France after a serious snowboarding accident is appealing to readers to help bring her home.
Corrine Barrons (33) is in hospital in Grenoble, coming out of a two week-long chemically-induced coma - but is stuck there until she can be flown back by medics as she was not fully covered by her insurance.
Although an aviation firm specialising in medical repatriation has offered to bring her back at reduced cost, the amount needed will still be around 8000.
Her sister Anne Lowe (27) of Montrose Gardens, Kilsyth, said that after ill health had forced Corrine to shut her cafe business, she decided to do a ski season in Meribel.
But everything changed on Tuesday, March 4, when Corrine hit the slopes on her day off. "She had tried to do a jump and landed on her head," Anne says.
"She had bleeding and bruising on her brain and had to be airlifted off the mountain by helicopter because of the seriousness of her injuries."
Doctors say Corrine will need six months to a year of rehab. "We don't want her out there on her own for all that time," Anne says.
"We are trying to do the best we can and bring her home but we just don't have that kind of money lying around."
Mediavation, a Yorkshire-based firm that offers air ambulance transport, was happy to help when they were contacted by Anne.
Director Martin Eede said: "Her sister had been quoted 11,000 to have her flown back to Britain but we only want to cover our costs, which will be 8000 maximum."
Martin explains that Corinne will need the firm's highest level of dependency. She will be cared for by the same crew that picked up TV personality Richard Hammond when he was seriously injured while test driving a car for Top Gear at 300mph.
He hopes Cumbernauld people will dig deep. "It is a heart-warming story and we will do our best to keep the costs down," he said.
Donations can be made behind the counter at the News office.
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Weather for Cumbernauld
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 0 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
