A “miracle” Long Island cop who defied death in a high-speed car chase earlier this year got a $150,000 check from well-wishers Thursday — and he said he’s “itching” to return to duty.
Suffolk County officer and Army veteran Brendon Gallagher walked using a cane at a news conference just weeks after he spent nine days on life support in the wake of the harrowing January crash.
“I’m happy. I’ll take it, you know? I’ll take it,” Gallagher told reporters inside the Suffolk Police Police Association building in Brentwood. “I’m itching to get back out there … I can’t wait to get back to work.”
The money was raised through an effort spearheaded by the PBA, Law Enforcement Officers Weekend and the Suffolk County Credit Union.
“It just shows you the power of community fundraising and the way that we can come together as a community here in Suffolk County to support one another,” said Louis Civello, president of Suffolk PBA.
Gallagher was left fighting for his life after the January high-speed pursuit on the Long Island Expressway, with his recovery later called a “miracle” by doctors.
The officer was chasing a Ford Mustang going over 100 mph when Cody Fisher, the driver of the Mustang, lost control and collided with Gallagher’s police cruiser.
The cruiser violently flipped off the highway and into the trees, leaving him trapped inside and badly injured — bleeding out for 45 straight minutes before finally being airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital.
His abdominal muscles and skin were “completely lacerated open,” according to his doctor, James Vosswinkel, adding that Gallagher had also been suffering from nerve damage in his legs and may need abdominal reconstructive surgery.
Gallagher was placed into a medically induced coma.
After his wreck, these groups decided to organize and put together a fundraiser for Gallagher on FundTheFirst.com — a Go-Fund-Me-esque website for first responders.
They quickly exceeded their initial goal of $50,000 — then raised the bar to $100,000 before reaching $150,000 in donations.
Despite his injuries, Gallagher told The Post he plans on donating some of the money to charity.
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