A teenager, aged 15, suffered severe brain damage after jumping off a pier, a dangerous activity known as tombstoning. His family is now advocating for improved care after medical staff reportedly neglected his needs, resulting in a lack of progress in his recovery.
They claim Jack Dolan’s remarkable recovery is being stalled and hindered by Medway Council and Medway Community Healthcare in Kent.
Nine months ago the teenager was left braindead after the horrific accident in Margate which should have killed him.
Instead, he has been able to talk, laugh, flirt with nurses and react to jokes and showed amazing signs of recovery in the first few months.
But his family fear he will not make further progress due to what they claim is poor care since he returned home in January.
They are turning to private treatment, including specialist hyperbaric oxygen therapy, to help him recover.
His stepfather Dave Dolan said: ‘We want better care for Jack. We will go to Parliament. We want a change in his condition and how he is cared for.’
He added: ‘It’s heartbreaking. There’s nowhere near enough help.
‘It’s terrible. They’re not helping him enough. The community care team are leaving him to bed-rot.
Jack Dolan, 15,was left brain damaged after tombstoning off a seaside pier in KentÂ
‘We’re realistic but have always been hopeful. The recovery has been amazing. There’s no reason why I can’t have that pint with him when he turns 18.
Despite showing promising improvement initially, the boy’s development has halted due to insufficient support from local authorities. Normally, he would be focusing on his studies and pursuing opportunities with the Royal Marines at his age.
‘Instead he is learning to walk and talk again. Well, he’s not, because he’s not getting the help he needs.
‘We’re considering legal action. It’s not right. It’s terrible.
‘Their care is atrocious. If there was a risk to life there would be a lot more.
‘We’re realistic. There’s always going to be a level of disability. But the next 18 months are crucial. It could change everything.
‘With the right help, we think he could be walking and talking in his 20s.’
Jack is cared for by Dave, his mother Lisa and his sisters Faith, 10, and Grace, nine.
Jack (pictured before his injury)Â was left braindead after the horrific accident – which should have killed him
The family attributes his recent advancements to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a treatment that involves inhaling pure oxygen in a specially pressurized chamber. This method aims to enhance oxygen levels in the body, aiding in the healing process of damaged tissues.
They have been paying thousands of pounds for it privately, funded through donations, and believe it will continue to transform the teenager’s life.
Footage shows Jack in the chamber, which has been installed at the family home in Rainham, Kent.
Dave added: ‘Thank God for the oxygen therapy. It’s been a huge help.’
The family are unable to get it on the NHS, due to the high costs involved.
Jack’s progress is being recorded on a TikTok page the family have set up which has been viewed millions of times from people around the world.
It has helped boost fundraising as well for the oxygen treatment.
Jack spends his weekdays at a rehab facility where he gets specialist care.
Incredible video footage shared on his social media shows Jack moving his head, watching video games and having focused eye contact with family
He then returns home at weekends to be with family and friends. The teen was enjoying a day out with friends on Sunday, June 23 when he threw himself off Stone Pier in Margate – landing head first on the water.
Jack, a pupil at the Howard School in Medway, was with four or five friends and his girlfriend on the day.
His parents had never let him go to the beach without them before because he has ADHD and was known to act before thinking.
He was knocked out as he landed on the water and initially floated face down.
His friends initially thought he was joking because they could see air bubbles coming from his mouth.
Jack then sank and was underwater for around eight minutes before he was rescued by a kayaker who dived down to get him.
He had performed the flip dozens of times before, most recently on holiday in Egypt in September, where video footage shows him laughing and throwing himself off the side of a jetty.
Jack’s progress is being recorded on a TikTok page the family have set up, which has got thousands of views from all over the world
Last year Jack’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to equip a new home with the specialist equipment he needs.Â
A Medway Council spokesman said: ‘Having been made aware of the issues, we have contacted Jack’s mum to understand the family’s concerns. Jack’s social care plan was put in place in January and due to be reviewed later this month, however, we will be bringing this review forward to ensure the right level of social care support is in place.
‘We will also be arranging a multi-disciplinary meeting with partner agencies to discuss the wider support that may be required in addition to social care.’ Tracy Webb, assistant director, Children’s and Planned Services at Medway Community Healthcare, stated: ‘We are providing regular appointments for Jack Dolan based on his clinical needs.
‘These meet national guidance and advice about recovery and ongoing care following a serious brain injury. Together with our colleagues at Medway Council, we are working to make this care and support as consistent, patient-centred and flexible as possible.
‘We are already in communication with the Dolan family regarding Jack’s care and the concerns raised; and will continue to work with them to find the best solution for Jack.’
