A Belfast teenager who was left with over 200 breaks following a motorcycle accident has been able to return home for the first time in two months following his injuries.
Dillon Irvine was injured in the collision on South Belfast on Tuesday June 7.
The 18-year-old was admitted to ICU for extensive injuries and has been kept at the Royal Victoria Hospital until he was allowed home last week.
Read more: Teen with over 200 breaks from crash says 'I love you mum' after coming around
Speaking to Belfast Live, his mum Jaynette said they "couldn't believe" that they finally had him home.
"Honestly it was amazing, we all stood outside for him when he was getting out of the ambulance and everything," she said.
"We kind of had to keep looking at home and asking is he really here?".
Dillon still has a long road to recovery ahead of him and has had to have three of his fingers amputated from his right hand due to the severity of his injuries.
"He's really sore, really tried, still so much to go through but he's just our DD, so upbeat, laughing and joking when he's not in pain," Jaynette added.
"When he is in pain, he obviously gets a bit down and that's to be expected, but he's just happy to be home.
"His brother is on absolute cloud nine having him back again.
"It's been a wee bit hard adjusting coming home because everything's so different, but the main thing is he's here, he's home, he's safe and that's the main thing you can ask for."
Jaynette said Dillon will continue to be taken into hospital for treatments until he is well enough to go to Glasgow for a major operation.
"That's for the spinal injury, where all his nerves were ripped from his spinal cord, that's why his right side doesn't work," she said.
"There's only a 20% chance of taking nerves from other parts of his body and implanting them, but there's still only a 20% chance of this working. And they won't know for months if it even will work.
"He'll still never regain full use of the arm, so the arm still is in the balance depending on how this surgery goes.
"If it doesn't go well, they will look at taking the arm because a prosthetic will give him a better lease at life, of doing more things.
"His leg is still in a cast up to his thigh and they're talking about putting a brace on it, but he's still no feeling in it or the foot."
The local community has rallied round Jaynette, Dillon's brother Scott and Dillon's girlfriend Samanta and have organised a fundraising night on Saturday August 13, to help the family with any costs that might lie ahead.
"They've got a wee night for him, a DJ and everybody's been donating prizes for ballots and that and it's just to get whatever help for him they can, as he still has a lot to go and has to go to Glasgow and that yet," Jaynette said.
"I think mainly it's just that they all think he deserves a wee treat and a wee night getting him down in the wheelchair just to see everyone.
"He really appreciates that everyone has been asking about him and it's just a way to say thank you to everyone as well."
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- Teenager in ICU after suffering more than 200 breaks in collision
- South Belfast crash leaves teen motorcyclist with 'life-changing injuries'
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