Former Westmeath footballer recovering after hit and run in New York

A FORMER Westmeath footballer who sustained serious head injuries in a hit and run accident in New York in December has thanked everyone who has supported him on his road to recovery.

Tommy Warburton (28) from Castledaly was knocked down by a jeep while on his way home from an evening out at around 1am on December 20. He was knocked unconscious and while he came around in a matter of hours, he sustained serious head and facial injuries.
Tommy, who has lived in New York for the past three-and-a-half years, suffered multiple skull and facial fractures, damage to his eye sockets and a small bit of bleeding on the brain. The bleeding stopped within a short period of time, but he is still suffering hearing loss in one ear and his balance is affected. He is undergoing therapy three times a week for the balance and he is hopeful of making a good recovery.
He is still off work while the recovery continues and has been very well supported by both his family and friends in Castledaly and members of the Westmeath and Roscommon communities in the US.
Tommy, who was part of the Castledaly team which won the club's only Westmeath senior football title in 2008, has also played for New York and is well regarded in football circles.
His recollection of the accident is non-existent due to him losing consciousness. “I was going home early and the next thing I remember was waking up in hospital in Manhattan. I saw the footage of the accident for the first time this week. I was crossing the street at a pedestrian crossing and a guy in a big SUV came and hit me. He caught me with the front right hand corner of the jeep. I was lucky it wasn't the full of the weight or I wouldn't be here. It's not something you expect to happen and because of the head trauma I can't remember anything,” he said.
Police are investigating the accident and as of yet the driver of the jeep has not been apprehended.
“For the first couple of weeks I couldn't do anything as I would get dizzy. Right now it's more frustrating because I can go to the shop but I can't work. For the first month or so I wouldn't go outside. I didn't feel comfortable around people but I am a lot better now in the last week or two.”
He told the Westmeath Independent this week that overall he feels lucky as his injuries could have been much more serious.
“I have been lucky. The bleeding stopped early. As bad as it was, I could have been a lot worse. I have a bit of bruising on my thigh but my head took all the damage,” he said.
He was going home early that night as he was working the next morning. In addition to his work in an Irish bar Fáilte in New York, he is working on ghost writing a business book and he intended to work on that the following morning.
Doctors have advised him to give up football and he will wait some time before making a final decision on this.
“I will wait between three and six months to see how I am healing. I am working on the balance a lot and it will come back,” he said.
While he is off work he doesn't get paid and the generosity of everyone who has helped him and those who sent text messages and messages of support is most appreciated.
His dad Frank visited him after the accident and he was delighted with this.
“Since the accident the amount of support has been overwhelming, both here and at home, from working in the bar and also from being involved in football. I want to thank everybody. I had been hoping to get home around this time of the year but obviously I won't get to now,” he said.
He is particularly thankful to those who organised a table quiz, the proceeds of which will go to his medical expenses, in Frank Fitzgerald's lounge in Castledaly recently.
The event, organised by Niall O'Neill, MJ McLoughlin and Paula Finan, along with Tommy's senior football team mates, was packed to capacity and 38 tables took part.