A NORTHERN Ireland football fan who suffered horrific injuries in a three-storey fall in France has returned home to Belfast.
Ben Crossley (23), who said he was "lucky to be alive" fell from a three-storey hotel window in Lyon on June 17.
He sustained multiple fractures to his face including his jaw, nose, cheek bones and eye sockets as well as smashing his teeth, shattering his knee and spraining his ankle.
Successful surgery has since been carried out on facial reconstruction and his knee, but the former Lagan College pupil faces a long road back to full health.
Yesterday Ben travelled by air ambulance from France to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald to continue his recovery.
Speaking to the Irish News on Tuesday evening following his four hour journey from France, Ben explained tears of joy were shared when he met with his mother and sister at the hospital.
"The air ambulance was just big enough for myself and two nurses in the back. I'm a good flyer anyway but they really made me feel comfortable during the four hour flight.
"Looking down over Belfast Lough on our way into the city airport has never felt so good. My mum and younger sister were waiting for me at the Ulster when I arrived and there were tears of joy shed. I got a full check over including new X-rays in the Ulster and have been allowed to return home. I'll be in tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to see the physio.
"I'm not really mobile at the minute,I've been given a boot for my left heel which is badly bruised/ sprained. And my right leg is still in a brace but can take some weight and I'm working on my flexion and rebuilding my quadricep and tendons. I can't really support myself with crutches or a Zimmer due to my broken hand and need help getting around the house but I am more than happy to be home."
Ben'ssister Rebecca took to Facebook yesterday to describe her happiness and relief that her brother was returning home.
She wrote: "So so happy, my brother Ben is coming home!! So proud of him for how strong he has been the last few weeks and for never losing that sense of humour (as evidenced in this status!)
"Thank you everyone who has supported and prayed for us over the last few weeks - Ben still has a long road of recovery to go but him just being home is what we are all looking forward to."
The Northern Ireland fan had been in France following the team in the European Championships and was in Lyon to see the team defeat Ukraine 2-0.
A football coach in Wisconsin in the USA since August 2014 Ben travelled over to the the tournament with a group of friends.
In the wake of his accident friends of the former Sheffield Hallam University student launched a gofundme page to help with medical expenses and so far have raised over £3,000.
On the page, launched over the weekend, it says Ben is "very lucky not be paralysed in any way and is even luckier to be alive".
Two Northern Ireland fans lost their lives while supporting their team in France during the Euros.
Ballymena man Darren Rodgers (24) died on June 13 when he toppled 26ft over a barrier from a promenade in Nice and Robert ‘Archie’ Rainey from Belfast suffered a suspected heart attack during the Northern Ireland v Ukraine match in Lyon on Thursday June 16.
To donate towards Ben Crossley's medical expenses visit gofundme.com/fundforBen. Any surplus money raised go to charity.