Carlow footballer Webb in seven-hour journey for broken-leg treatment

A GAA player is recovering in hospital after travelling from Carlow to Waterford over seven hours in three ambulances after he broke his leg.

Shane Webb fractured his leg in two places during a football match on Wednesday night. After treatment at the scene, an ambulance was called at 8.05pm.

It was dispatched from Portlaoise to Carlow and took Shane to St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny, where he was told he needed further treatment in Waterford.

A second ambulance was called for the transfer and was dispatched from Dublin but was diverted while en route due to an emergency call.

A third ambulance was then called and dispatched from Carlow. It travelled to Kilkenny to transfer Shane to Waterford, where he arrived at 3am in the morning.

In a statement, the HSE said the region was well served by ambulances and that, in certain circumstances, ambulances from adjacent locations could assist emergency calls in Carlow and Kilkenny.

Shane Webb's uncle Walter Lacey, who is an independent councillor in Carlow, said the footballer was on the road to recovery, but was still feeling the effects of his injury.

"He's still in a lot of pain…and I'm sure there's more work to be done," he said.

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