BRAVE firefighter Andy Adams has paid tribute to all those who are helping him rebuild his life after he was paralysed while tackling a deliberate blaze.

The Greenock watch commander has spoken about the challenges he faces since learning he will never be able to walk again.

Andy, 49, has no feeling below his chest after a wall collapsed on him while he tackled an incident at the Larkfield Masonic Club last year.

As he faces up to having to relearn basic skills like how to eat, drink and swallow, he says the massive show of support locally and across the country has pulled him through.

It comes as the Fire Brigade Union hands over £25,000 for the appeal in Andy’s name, after a lottery funding drive and a recent fundraising night held in Port Glasgow Town Hall proved a big success.

Andy said: “I want to thank everyone for their support — my family and my colleagues, and people from all over the country. 

“It has given me the motivation to keep going.

“The fire service is like a family.

“We are always there for each other.”

Andy, his partner of 25 years, nurse Clare Linning, daughter Hannah, 22, and son Darren, 14, saw their lives changed forever in August when the accident happened.

The firefighter is still adjusting as he comes to terms with his disability but his determination and strength of spirit shines through.

He said: “The whole world becomes a challenge.

“Every doorway is a challenge.

“But it’s only half time in the game.

“There’s a long way to go.

“I’m starting to get out and about with it, but it will take time to build up the confidence to go out in the chair on my own. 
“I need someone with me at the moment.

“This type of injury really does expose you.”

The father-of-two suffered a severed spinal cord, fractured neck, three broken vertebrae, a broken sternum, two fractured scapulae, a punctured lung, broken collarbone, broken tibula, fibula, ankle and jaw as a result of the wall collapse.

Andy says he is grateful that his partner Clare was not on nursing duty at Inverclyde Royal when he was rushed in.

With Clare by his side he was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he spent two weeks in intensive care fighting for his life. 

It was only when doctors woke him up from a medically induced coma that he learned about his life-changing injuries.

Now out of intensive care and in a high dependency ward, Andrew’s focus is on his rehabilitation. 

He has a long, arduous journey ahead to try to improve his upper body strength, with twice daily intensive physical therapy sessions each weekday.

Andy has also had to learn some skills so that he can lead his life as independently as possible.

Some of these, such as learning to use a wheelchair, have been new skills, but he has also had to relearn the very basics to survive – drinking, eating and swallowing
Andrew made it out of his high dependency ward over the festive period so he could spend time with his family but was unable to go to his own home because his house is too narrow for a wheelchair, and instead moved into Clare’s mum’s house so the family could all be together.

The lifelong Morton fan has been overwhelmed by the support from his beloved club, with Ton first team stars visiting him in hospital, a collection for the appeal taken at Cappielow and a one minute round of applause held in the 49th minute during a home match against Hibs in a tribute to his bravery.

Andy was speaking to the Fire Brigade Union as they announced the £25,000 donation for the appeal to help his rehabilitation.

They donated £20,000 from their new lottery and organised a race night in the Port Glasgow Town Hall which raised another £5,000.

FBU executive council member for Scotland Chris McGlone said: “The fundraising night was an overwhelming success.

“Each and every FBU member will know that their colleagues will always stand by them and their families if the worst were to happen.

“The fire brigade family sticks together.

“The Fire Brigades Union is committed to supporting Watch Commander Andy Adams and his family through his rehabilitation period.”

The FBU official added: “I’m delighted that Andy and his family were first recipients in the UK to receive support from the Firefighter 100 lottery fund.”

The union would like to thank all local and national businesses for their generous donations of prizes for the charity event, plus the staff from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for ensuring Andy’s attendance on the night. 

The FBU also thanked Andy’s family, all fire service employees, friends and members of the community who attended, plus Roy from Music Mania Entertainment for his services.

They also praised the Port Glasgow Town Hall team for their support and ICE catering and bar staff for their service on the night and donations to Andy’s fund.

Local organisations have been busy taking part in the fundraising efforts and the Andy Adams Fund appeal now stands at £46,242.

To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Andy-Adamsfund?utm_id=106&utm_term=PYJ5Dyw58