A HERO firefighter who was badly injured while battling a suspicious blaze says vital support from his colleagues, friends and family has inspired him ‘to keep going’.

Watch Manager Andrew Adams, 49, sustained serious injuries when a wall collapsed as he battled a fire at the former Larkfield Masonic Association club in Greenock’s Auchmead Road in August.

The father-of-two is still being treated at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, but today bravely spoke of the inspirational support he has received from his partner and children.

Andrew, known to friends as Andy, is being supported by daughter Hannah, 22, son Darren, 14, and partner of 25 years, Clare Linning, who is a nurse.

He has had regular contact with friends and colleagues, and was recently visited by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Chief Officer Alasdair Hay.

A huge crowdfunding efforts has now been launched in a bid to raise £250,000 to assist Andrew’s long-term rehabilitation.

Speaking from his hospital bed, he said: “I just want to thank everyone for their support – my family and my colleagues.

“The service has been behind me and so has the communities of Greenock and Inverclyde.

“All of that support combined has given me the motivation to keep going.”

He added: “The support that my family and I have received from my fellow firefighters is hard to describe.

“There has basically been backing from right across the service, from the top of the organisation right down.

“The fire service is like family. We are always there for each other.”

Andrew was seriously injured as he and his crew tackled the fire in the early hours of August 25.

Andrew joined the Service in 1989 as a retained firefighter in Greenock and became a full time firefighter in 1992 at Paisley.

He was thereafter promoted to crew manager at Ardrossan in Ayrshire and also sub-officer at Ardrossan and Port Glasgow, as well as temporary station officer at Johnstone and Ardrossan.

He then became watch manager at Port Glasgow, Paisley and then Greenock.

Andrew said: “My friends and colleagues are wanting to do some fundraising for me and my family to assist with my long-term rehabilitation.

“At the moment, we do not know what we will need but that offer of assistance is invaluable.

“I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the fantastic NHS staff at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and at the Queen Elizabeth Intensive Care Unit, as well as the National Spinal Injuries Unit.”

If you would like to contribute to the fundraising effort, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Andy-Adamsfund?utm_id=107&utm_term=77WVgG28j

Alternatively visit www.paypal.me/andyadamsfund, www.facebook.com/andyadams.fund, twitter.com/AndyAdamsfund or email andyadamsfund@gmail.com