Jimmy Scott tells his fascinating story in new book

The accident that changed Jimmy Scott’s life forever happened in rural Australia in October 1989. He was 22 years of age at the time and had taken up a job on a large sheep farm when the land cruiser in which he was travelling with Pat, a friend from Cork, careered off a dirt track, hit a mount at the verge of the road, and flipped over.

Pat was thrown out of the vehicle and was found by a group of fisherman who were passing by the scene of the accident. He spent a few days in hospital with back injuries and double vision. 

Jimmy lay beneath the overturned land cruiser for approximately six hours before he was found and airlifted to hospital in Perth. Doctors told his family in Ireland that he was not likely to survive. He defied that prognosis after remaining in a coma for six weeks and spending six months in hospital.

The accident severely impaired his sight, and Jimmy is registered blind. For over 20 years, the Roslevin Lawn, Athlone, resident has been working as a switchboard operator in Custume Barracks. He has travelled all over the world on hiking expeditions to raise money for the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).

Now approaching the age of 50, he decided to tell his story in a book ‘A Long Journey Travelled’ which will be launched by Comdt Ray Kenny, who recently returned from a mission in Syria. 

* ‘A Long Journey Travelled’ by Jimmy Scott will be launched by Comdt Ray Kenny at Custume Barracks on Tuesday, December 20, at 8pm. All are welcome.

The book, priced €10, will also be on sale in the 'Daybreak' shop at The Crescent; in Croughan's SuperValu on the Ballymahon Road; and in the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) shop in Athlone. All proceeds will go to the NCBI.

For more on Jimmy's fascinating story, see this week's Westmeath Independent, out now.