A TEENAGER’S dreams of becoming a paratrooper are in jeopardy after he was injured in training and forced to leave the Army.

Dan Coolican, 18, sustained a serious hip injury while training at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate and after being consigned to light duties and undergoing various tests and scans was medically discharged.

The Church Fenton teenager was told keyhole surgery to fix the cartilage in his hip socket – which is not available of the NHS – could return him to full health and allow him to return to the Army.

He has since undergone surgery costing £5,000 after his family secured a private loan, but still has £4,000 to raise in order to repay it.

It is hoped a full recovery following the operation will mean he is accepted back into Parachute Regiment.

After undergoing the operation at the end of December, Dan now faces a lengthy recovery process and will not be be fully mobile for months.

His mum, Yvette Coolican, said: “I’m hopeful he has got age on his side.

“I hope his fitness will get better quickly and he will be able to get back in the Army as quickly as possible.”

A spokesman for the NHS in North Yorkshire and York said it could not comment on individual cases.

He said: “The NHS does not routinely fund hip arthroscopy. Patients who fulfil a list of clinical criteria may be considered for this treatment through an individual funding request but in such cases the patient would be advised on this by their own doctor.”

If you would like to donate money towards the cost of the operation or to get more information, visit the Facebook page: “Get Dan the man back where he belongs in the Army”.