A dad-of-four has been told he may never walk again after slipping on ice and breaking his neck in a freak accident at work. Paul Lockett, described as a "massive family man", was working at a construction site on December 13 when he lost his footing as he was getting out of the crane he was operating.
The fall was so severe he broke his neck, lost all feeling in his legs and needed to be airlifted to Tunbridge Wells Hospital A&E where scans confirmed he had broken the C6-C7 section of his spine, which is just above the shoulders. He has also dislodged another part of his spinal cord.
The 49-year-old was transferred to the Royal College Hospital in London on Saturday for an operation to repair his spine that his heartbroken family claims could stop him from becoming permanently paralysed. His daughter Josie, from Ystrad, Rhondda, said: "Doctors say my dad is lucky to be alive but he may never walk again.
Read more: Woman can finally see her grandchildren again after life-changing operation
"It was extremely scary when we found out what had happened. We all left work and went straight to the hospital to see him. He's now got some feeling in his legs, which is a good sign, and some pain and pins and needles in his arms so there's still a big risk that he could be paralysed at any moment."
Josie, 21, said lying in the same position in hospital has been a source of great frustration for her dad who loves his job as a crane operator. "My dad is extremely funny and he doesn't care what he says - whatever comes out of his mouth is exactly what is on his mind. He's the life and soul of a party," she added.
"I've got a little sister who's only five and my dad is her world. She adores him and he adores her. He really is a massive family man and it's awful that he's so far away unable to see us.
"Christmas is only a few days away and we know he's going to be in hospital on his own hundreds of miles away. It's just really sad."
As Paul will be out of work for the foreseeable future after the accident at a site in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Josie has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family financially during this unexpected crisis. To date close to £2,000 has been raised. To donate please go here.
"I only mentioned the GoFundMe as a joke as we're not the sort of family who asks for help, but we all agreed it was a good thing to do. He's going to be out of work for so long and it's going to be a tough time for us all," added Josie, who works for Molson Coors Brewing Company in Cardiff Gate.
"I didn't think we'd get anywhere near what we've got so far. People from my work have donated, my boyfriend and his friends have donated, as well as people we haven't spoken to in years. It shows my dad has got people who really care about him."
READ NEXT:
- Women unaware of alternatives to HRT that could help through menopause
- Wales reports more than 850 scarlet fever cases in a single week
- Strep A symptoms, how long it's contagious for and how it spreads
- Assaults on emergency workers have risen across Wales as staff issue urgent plea
- Mum with serious lung condition stranded in airport with no medication after EasyJet cancelled her flight twice
