Crash victim may have to move into old people's home

The father-of-three’s life changed forever on October 23 last year when his motorcycle was involved in a crash at Sandford near Wareham.

Sam’s spinal cord was severed, his kidneys and liver crushed and he suffered four broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

After spending a fortnight in an induced coma, Sam defied medical experts who told his wife Kerry-Anne there was no hope.

Kerry-Anne, 35, from Chalbury, near Horton said: “During the first week, they said Sam wouldn’t make it until the morning three times. When he still wasn’t responding, I was advised to switch off his life support machine.

“But I was convinced I could feel his fingers moving and refused to give up hope. I’ve lost both of my parents and I couldn’t lose Sam as well.”

Kerry-Anne’s steely determination paid off when her husband regained consciousness. He left Southampton hospital on November 23 and was transferred to Salisbury Hospital.

She said: “Salisbury hospital has been amazing but there is a big demand for beds in the spinal unit and we’ve been told we have just a week and a half to find somewhere suitable for Sam to live.

“Otherwise he will have to go into an old people’s home in Poole. He knows other patients who have ended up in old people’s homes, so it’s not unusual.

“We can’t stay in our rented home because the tenancy ends soon and it is unsuitable for wheelchairs. We need three bedrooms and space to store Sam’s electric wheelchair, walking frame, hoist and shower chair.”

Kerry-Anne had hoped that East Dorset Housing Association would accommodate her family.

She said: “We were offered one house, but although it was wheelchair accessible, the area wasn’t. When police confirmed two paedophiles were living there, we couldn’t take any chances with our children’s safety.

“Since we refused that house, there haven’t been any other offers and time is running out. We’ve tried to rent privately but because we’re on benefits – Sam’s career working with autistic young adults has come to an end – estate agents say no-one will house us.”

Speaking from Salisbury Hospital, Sam said: “While my needs are being taken care of in hospital, my family are being treated as an inconvenience. My mental health is dependent on their happiness.”

A spokesman for the Synergy Housing Group said: “We recognise that Mr Fairbrother’s current accommodation, which is privately rented, is no longer suitable for his needs after his extremely serious accident.

“Synergy Housing has made a suitable offer of alternative accommodation, which includes the appropriate aids and adaptations required by Mr Fairbrother. However, he refused the offer for personal reasons.

“Unfortunately, Synergy Housing is unable to guarantee if and when a suitable adapted property or one that has the potential to be adapted will become available.

“In the meantime, the housing advice team will offer support to Mr Fairbrother in seeking appropriate accommodation in the private sector,” added the spokesman.