RUGBY stars and musicians have joined up with the people of Cobh to raise funds for a talented local rugby player who lost his leg when he was hit by a train in Australia.
Cobh’s  Gavin Owens, aged 29, is recovering in hospital in Newcastle, Australia, after the accident on August 19 that left him needing an amputation below the knee.
He was in an induced coma until last week, but his good friend Barry Walsh said: “He hopes to be walking again by Christmas. He’s an incredible lad, all he wants to do is get better.
“The nurses in Australia are amazed at him. He doesn’t want to take morphine because he wants to focus his mind on getting better.
“That’s Gavin for you, he’s one of the strongest people you’ll ever meet.”
A talented rugby player with Cobh Pirates, he had made the Munster junior squad in the past and took part in a training camp in New Zealand, organised by RTÉ rugby pundit Brent Pope.
He is also a gifted guitarist and played with his friends in the band, Sir Jim the Square One, before moving to Australia in 2009.
A huge fund-raiser took place in Cobh GAA Hall on Friday night, when around 400 people turned up for a concert in Gavin’s honour.
Gavin had chosen some of the songs for the set list from his hospital bed in Australia.
“I talked to Gavin during the night and we sent him pictures of the concert. He was just blown away by the support that everyone has been giving,” said Barry.
The event raised around 7,000 euro for Gavin.