A WOMAN who was paralysed in a horse riding accident in Egypt has arrived back in the North-East.

Olivia Fairclough, 31, was living and working in the country when she was crushed by her horse in the accident last month.

Her travel insurance lapsed leaving her stricken 2,500 miles from home, in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees.

But her loved ones and even strangers raised enough money to repatriate her after her friends contacted the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) for help.

Andy Mawson, an aircrew paramedic at the Darlington-based charity, approached Capital Air Ambulance, which agreed to fly a specially equipped Learjet 45 to pick up Ms Fairclough from a Cairo hospital.

A GoFundMe fundraising page started by Olivia's brother Trevor Fairclough raised £32,500 from more than 1,300 donors.

The plane carrying Ms Fairclough landed at Durham Tees Valley Airport at 8.30pm on Monday evening.

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance said: "Friends and family were clearly hugely relieved to get her back on home soil.

"She was then transferred from the jet to a waiting ambulance from North East Ambulance Service and was taken to James Cook University Hospital.

"It's been a tremendous team effort and we are just glad to have been able to offer some assistance to Olivia and her family during what has been a hugely emotional time for them."

A GoFundMe fundraising page started by Olivia's brother Trevor Fairclough raised £32,500 from more than 1,300 donors in two weeks.

He said: "The way we were brought up, it's almost embarrassing to ask for help.

"But we felt so alone, we had no choice. The response has restored our faith in humanity.

"To say 'thank you' is not enough."

Ms Fairclough underwent four hours of surgery in a specialist spinal hospital in Cairo last week.

Writing on the GoFundMe website, Mr Fairclough said she had come round and was "smiling at my stupid one liners".

Doctors have been helping the family prepare for her return home and treatment.

Mr Mawson said: "Like everyone else, we just want to get Olivia home. We have all pulled together to make this happen. Our priority is to get this over the line to ensure Olivia gets the care she needs, surrounded by those she loves."

Lisa Humphries, of Exeter-based Capital Air Ambulance, said: "We just wanted to help the family. We knew money was an issue and we did everything we could to make it possible."