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Hundreds raised for medical bills
GENEROUS friends and family of a holidaymaker who broke his neck after a swimming pool prank went wrong have raised hundreds of pounds towards his medical bills.
Around 100 people packed into Hartlepool's Corporation Club, in Whitby Street, at the weekend to help raise 750 for Timmy Russell.
That will be added to the 300 raised by Mariners Fish and Chip Restaurant, and a 1,000 donation from a close friend of the 29-year-old, who does not wish to be named.
Timmy fractured the seventh vertebrae in his neck after diving 10ft head-first off a bridge into the hotel pool during a lads' holiday in Magaluf.
The dad-of-two – who is facing a 6,000 medical bill – was fitted with a specialist neck brace called a halo to support his neck, back and shoulders, which he was given at the Son Dureta public hospital, in Palma.
It was originally thought he would have it on for the next three months but doctors will operate later this month to place a small bone from his hip into his neck in the spot of the fracture.
A pin will then be inserted to strengthen the bones.
The charity night – which included a raffle, auction and live performances – was organised by his friends Jade Bromby and Alan Hughes.
Timmy said: "It was a great night and we were over the moon to raise so much money which will go a long way towards paying the medical bills.
"We had signed football shirts, jewellery and match tickets to raffle and there was even an auction, in which people could win a date with three of our female friends.
"It was a bit different but it helped raise a lot of money."
Former radio DJ, Paul 'Goffy' Gough, oversaw the auction and he said: "It was great to help raise so much money."
Timmy's operation will take place at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, in the next couple of weeks.
After the accident the dad-of-two was first taken to the Juaneda private hospital where the bill for his five-night stay is expected to be around 6,000.
His insurance company has refused to pay out because the injury was self-inflicted, plus there were warning signs around the pool at the Fiesta Jungla hotel in the sunshine resort.
Timmy's partner, Hollie Lynas, 23, who is mum to their four-month-old son, Oliver, had flown to Palma to be with him.
Former High Tunstall pupil Timmy, who lives in Everett Street and works at Comet, flew to Magaluf on Sunday, August 15, for a week-long break.
He also has another son, Luis Russell-Huntley, eight, with former girlfriend Hayley Huntley, 28, a shop assistant from the Rift House area.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
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Wind direction: South
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