Abbeytown roof fall boy goes back to school

By Pam McClounie

Last updated 14:21, Monday, 06 October 2008

A boy who fell from the roof of a derelict building and was left fighting for his life is making a good recovery and has returned to school.

View more pictures...

Derelict: The old garage at the end of Laurel Terrace in Abbeytown where Robbie Girdler was injured

Robbie Girdler, of Abbeytown, near Wigton, plummeted about 25ft while playing with friends inside a derelict garage in the village’s Laurel Terrace in August.

Robbie, nine, is now back at his desk for one hour a day at Holm Cultram Abbey School.

His uncle John Girdler, of Carleton Grange, Carlisle, is preparing to do a charity bike ride from Newcastle’s City General Hospital to Abbeytown to raise cash for the Pride of Cumbria Air Ambulance – which saved Robbie’s life.

Robbie was flown directly to hospital by air ambulance and was initially described as being in a critical condition on a ventilator.

Mr Girdler, 44, said: “Robbie is doing really well and we’re all delighted that he’s back at home and on the road to recovery.

“The whole family wants to say a big thank-you to the air ambulance that saved his life and that’s why we’ve organised the bike ride next Saturday.

“The air ambulance provides a vital service and really needs as much funding as possible.”

Mr Girdler and 14 others will set off on their bikes at the crack of dawn from the hospital where Robbie was treated.

“I work at Innovia in Wigton and I’m on night shift all next week. I’ll be coming off my shift at about 5.30am and heading over to Newcastle to cycle back to Abbeytown. It’s going to be exhausting, but worth it.

“It’s about 20 years since I was last on a bike so it could be quite funny,” said Mr Girdler, a dad-of-two.

The team, who will be wearing special t-shirts, hope to raise between £3,000 and £5,000 for the air ambulance.

Mr Girdler said: “We’ve had sponsorship from Innovia and Mobex in Workington. Mobex is providing our support vehicles.

“Carlisle United has also sponsored us.”

n To sponsor Mr Girdler and his team, make cheques payable to the Great North Air Ambulance and send them to Pam McClounie, Editorial, Newspaper House, Dalston Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 5UA.

PMcClounie@cngroup.co.uk