Jack Dolan: Fundraiser for teen left in vegetative state after landing 'head first on water' in pier incident

A fundraiser has raised over £16,000 to care for a teenager who was left in a vegetative state and suffering with dystonia after he flipped off a pier and landed “head first on the water”. Jack Dolan, 15, went to Stone Pier in Margate, Kent, on June 23 for the first time where he flipped off the pier and landed “face first in the water”.

According to his stepfather, Dave Dolan said Jack might have “misjudged” his landing as he landed face-first on the water and “knocked himself out.” He told GB News: “It was only three or four metres and if he'd landed a quarter rotation one way or the other he would probably have been fine. That's why we can't be angry at him. He'd done it so many times before, there is no blame.

“I know he was laughing, I can actually see him doing it, smiling and being a complete show-off. The last thing he would have known was being happy.”

The teenager, who was diagnosed with ADHD, was liable to act without thinking, according to his family. He previously visited the beach with his family as they were protective of him. Jack, a pupil at the Howard School in Medway, was treated by paramedics before being taken to King’s College Hospital by air ambulance.

Subsequent MRI scans however showed his brain is now beyond repair and he can never recover. The Dolans currently live in council accommodation and hope to move to a suitable home as soon as possible.

Sam Cass, who organised the crowdfunder, said the incident has “crushed the family”. He said: “As people may be aware Lisa and Dave's son, Jack, suffered a tragic accident last week, unfortunately an MRI scan has shown there to be no brain activity and is currently in the process of being moved to palliative care.

“This has crushed his family. As I'm sure everybody can understand, both Lisa and Dave are going to have to take the foreseeable off of work to take care of other priorities. They have made the impossible decision to let Jack go peacefully and live on in our minds and hearts as the Jack we all knew and loved.

“This fundraiser is to raise money for them to help ease the pressure of upcoming palliative care and future funeral costs to give Jack the send off that he deserves. This will hopefully be one less thing for the family to worry about. As most know Jack is a complete ADHD kid and the biggest joker, with a heart of gold. He loves to show off in front of girls and won't leave the house without doing his hair.

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“He loves his family, will do anything for his sisters and this fundraiser is to take a little bit of the burden away from them. Many people love Jack and I'm sure they all wish the family wasn't going through this right now, so If you can donate, even a pound, we really do appreciate it.”