Family’s plea for help after man left in a coma from Oz attack...
Over €12,500 raised in just one day for tragic Michael
AN online fundraising drive to help an Irishman left in a coma by a New Year’s assault has raised more than €12,500 in less than a day.
The massive surge of support comes after the family of Michael Hyndman appealed for assistance so they can be at his bedside as he is treated in the wake of the attack in Sydney.
He was celebrating the dawn of the New Year in the Australian city with his fiancee Clar and brother Christopher when an altercation took place.
Michael, who is in his 20s, received a blow to the head and was rushed to hospital where he had surgery and has since been in an induced coma.
His brother Barry Hyndman made a heartfelt appeal on Facebook for Gofundme donations to fly his family out so they can be by his bedside as he fights for his life.
The post said: “We have thought long and hard about the decision to seek your help but the truth is, we need it, and more importantly Michael needs it.
“On September 1 this year, he and his fiancee Clar landed in Sydney to begin what everyone believed to be their amazing new adventure – a new and exciting chapter in their book of life.”
The newly-graduated quantity surveyor from Belfast had landed a job within days of arriving.
He and Clar – who recently celebrated thir engagement – had been having “the time of their lives”.
Barry added: “They were no doubt optimistic about what 2018 and their future together was going to bring.
“Anyone that knows Michael knows the kind of person he is. He is a true gentleman, full of life and full of fun, he has a heart of gold and would do anything to help out someone in need. It is now our turn to help him.
“So here we ask you to support Michael on this horrible journey in whatever way you can.
“We want to allow the family to be at his bedside for as long as is necessary as he fights this, the hardest battle of his life.
“He really needs them there and they need to be there to support him through this.”
Barry said Clar and Christopher are “now without their closest family on the opposite end of the world, unable to work and bring in further financial Michael Hyndman support”. He added: “Michael has a long road to recovery and we don’t want financial worries to prevent him having what he needs to make a full recovery. “He has an uncertain road ahead but he is strong and we are hoping he pulls through and comes out the other end with his tongue sticking out.”
The family went on to thank everyone for reading Michael’s story and Facebook users for their thoughts, prayers, offers of support and financial help. In an update posted on the Gofundme page, Barry said his brother “remains in a coma at this time”, and that the family “ask you to continue to pray hard for his recovery”. He added: “We want to say a massive thank you to each and every person for their help.
“It means so much to us and we have been overwhelmed by the response it has had.”
■ The donations page can be found here https://www.gofundme.com/ michael-needs-your-help-today.