Covid struck diver Davy launches appeal to bring Mexican medics to wedding

A former deep sea diver who has been left wheelchair bound by Covid induced strokes while working in Mexico has launched an appeal to help bring the medical team who saved his life over to Scotland for his wedding next year, writes Iain Ferguson.

 

"attachment_830296" "" "300"] Hospital staff who attended to Davy in Mexico.

 

Davy Duncan, 60, from Caol near Fort William had only been on board his dive ship for a week in February 2021 when, after passing all medical checks, Covid struck and he was flown off for treatment.

 

Unfortunately he went downhill rapidly, suffering multiple organ failure and was put into an induced coma so he could be moved to a hospital in Villahermosa. Medical staff did not expect him to live and after surviving his first night was given a life expectancy of only five days.

 

Davy's partner Helen Smith immediately flew to Mexico to be with him and stayed by his side for two months, supporting him day-to-day in the hope that by some miracle she would be able to bring him home.

 

Language was a huge problem as very few people spoke English. As the area was well off the tourist trail, Helen had to rely on a hotel worker to voluntarily accompany her on each visit to translate.

 

"attachment_830299" "" "249"] Davy was considered well enough to return home on a dedicated medical flight in April 2021.

 

After recovering from several strokes and operations to alleviate the effects, Davy was eventually considered stable enough to fly home on a dedicated medical flight. Arriving in Inverness in April, he spent another six months in Raigmore Hospital.

 

During this time Helen, who had sold off her food outlets in Fort William and Oban, made a daily 140-mile return trip from Fort William to be by his side. It was during one of these visits that he found the words to propose and, of course, she accepted. The wedding will take place on April 15 next year.

 

Helen and Davy decided their day would not be complete without the attendance of their Mexican 'family' of medics and hotel workers who could never themselves afford to make the journey.

 

Apart from a GoFund Me page, the couple also plan a mountain challenge with Davy in an accessible wheelchair, backed up by many of their friends in running and mountaineering clubs across Scotland.

 

Davy said: 'I owe my life to these people and need to get them here, not only as a thank you, but so that I can meet them properly and let them see what their goodness has allowed me to achieve.'

 

Helen echoed his sentiment saying: 'Davy still has a smile to light up any room and is so

 

motivated and determined to make sure those who did so much for him can see it.'

 

Donations can be made on www.gofundme.com/f/reuniting-davy-with-those-who-saved-his-life?

 

NO_F48_DavyDuncan_MexicanMedics 01: Davy Duncan and Helen Smith want to share their happiness with the people who saved his life.

 

NO_F48_DavyDuncan_MexicanMedics 02: Hospital staff who attended to Davy in Mexico.

 

NO_F48_DavyDuncan_MexicanMedics 03: Davy was considered well enough to return home on a dedicated medical flight in April 2021.