Walk To Raise Money And Awareness After Eastbourne Man's Left Paralysed

Wednesday, 21 October 2020 06:00

By Iona Stewart-Richardson @IslandIona

It's hoped money and awareness will be raised for an Eastbourne man who had a freak accident on a trampoline - leaving him essentially paralysed.

59-year-old Sean Foley, who has two young daughters has been unable to see them after what happened to him in a friend's garden in May.

More Radio's been told Sean was bouncing in the middle of the trampoline and tried to do a summersault but fell onto his neck and broke his fourth vertebrae - leaving him with life-changing injuries.

Sean is currently at Stoke Mandeville Hospital but his wife is only allowed to visit for around an hour a week.

Sean's brother David told More Radio because of the coronavirus crisis he is receiving very little physio care - just three and a half hours a week - as opposed to three and a half hours a day.

Therefore his family are walking from Brighton Marina to Beachy Head on Saturday, not only to raise awareness of the "dangers" of trampolines but also in a bid to bring him home to his wife and daughters - so he can receive the care that he needs.

Sean's brother David has been speaking to More Radio, he said:

"We really want to make people aware of the dangers of trampolines and before this accident happened I didn't actually realise they are as bad as they are - but after speaking to people including consultants at Brighton Hospital - they say it is one of the most accident-prone situations there is and the amount of people they have from these accidents is quite incredible."

Dave told More Radio his family initially hoped to raise £10,000 for Sean's cause but thanks to people in the local community and across the country they have raised £20,000.

David said:

"To the general public and Eastbourne on behalf of my family I have got to say a massive thank you and it just shows what sort of people we are in this country - we are so generous. There are golf days that have been done and money collection points all around Eastbourne - he was very popular in many different places...Some people have actually paid money that they can't even afford."

"He is a fighter...If we can get him home and private physio for him as well, then this money is going to help him...If anyone can overcome it - it certainly would be him."

At the moment Sean can lift his shoulders and elbows but has no use of his hands. It is not known at this stage whether he will make a full recovery.

You can donate to David's cause here.