999: Critical Condition: Joiner suffers potential life-changing injuries after tumbling downstairs

A Cheshire joiner who broke his back falling head first down his stairs is now on the road to recovery thanks to the life-saving skills of staff at University Hospitals of North Midlands.

Tim Millington, of Holmes Chapel, blacked out at the top of his stairs at home suffering potentially life-changing injuries before being rushed to the Major Trauma Centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

The 60-year-old’s story will feature on tonight’s (WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE) episode of 999: Critical Condition on Channel 5 at 9pm. 

Today Tim said: “I was walking across the landing on the way to bed when I passed out. When I woke up I was lying at the bottom of the stairs, I have no idea how long I was out for but somehow managed to crawl back up the stairs and into bed.

“I honestly thought I would just be a bit bruised and back to work in a day or so but by the second day of being in bed I couldn’t move. I had to pee in a bottle and realised in was blood and realised then I needed an ambulance.”

He added: “I was completely unaware of how serious my injuries were and to hear doctors saying I might not have made it or been in a wheelchair for the rest of my life is hard to understand. I have to say though I was treated fantastically, the staff were brilliant and I was given everything that was needed.”

Following four weeks at Royal Stoke, father of five Tim spent 12 weeks in a rehabilitation care home and it now back home using walking sticks for aids and is determined to back at work by Christmas.

During his tests at Royal Stoke doctors discovered Tim was in heart failure and that was the cause of his blackout and is also under the care of the cardiology team at Royal Stoke.

“I would never have known anything was wrong with my heart, I had no symptoms and hadn’t blacked out before. Thankfully it hasn’t happened again and things have improved dramatically. I feel good although a bit frustrated and housebound sometimes but things seem to be getting so much better.”