CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A headfirst plummet onto concrete at a construction site last week has left an Emerald man battling for his life.
Ryan Mahar, 32, fell roughly 20 feet while working to build a warehouse in the Elmsdale, P.E.I., area on Sept. 4, his parents Dale and Lori Maher told The Guardian on Wednesday.
The Workers Compensation Board of P.E.I. confirms occupational health and safety officers were called by RCMP to the scene of an accident on that day in that area.
“We are in the process of investigating the accident and as such are unable to provide further comment,’’ says a spokeswoman.
Dale and Lori say they have received scant detail on the accident.
They were told by Ryan’s boss that Ryan was hoisting rafters on a windy day, but that the strength of winds was within standards to carry out such work.
Dale says his son went straight into a coma after striking the pavement.
A CT scan performed at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, he adds, revealed the skull had been severely fractured.
Ryan, a father of three, was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Moncton, where he remains in a coma with his partner Cassy Noonan by his side.
Dale says doctors have not given a prognosis.
He is trying to remain positive and hopeful.
“One day at a time,’’ he says. “I believe he is going to be fine. I really do. And I’m sticking with that.’’
Dale says his son seemed to have found his calling in construction work.
Ryan had worked in mussel fishing for several years and later spent time working on large carrier ships. Neither job was overly appealing to him.
He started into construction work just two months ago – and seemed hooked from the start.
“He’s taken a liking to construction work…he just loves it,’’ says Dale.
“The best job he ever had.’’
He adds Ryan appeared set on a career in this field.
Dale describes his boy as headstrong, but a man with a big heart who would do anything for anyone.
Lori says Ryan is an excellent father to his sons Teigan, 10, and Jensen, 4, and to his five-year-old daughter Serenity.
“He’s very involved in the kids, probably way more than most people,’’ she says.
The couple say Teigan knows his father is not in a good situation and gets upset whenever his dad is mentioned.
They also say the severity of the accident is beyond the comprehension of the two younger children.
An online fundraising campaign has been started to help with expenses.
The site can be found by googling "GoFundMe Ryan Mahar" or by going to www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-mahar-family.
