A beloved father-of-two has been left paralysed after he slipped on ice during a routine walk home, just weeks after he beat a devastating cancer diagnosis.
59-year-old Neil Tracey from Doncaster was walking home following England's World Cup quarter final fixture with France (December 10), when he slipped on ice formed through the UK's freezing temperatures.
He has since been left paralysed with no ability to move whatsoever, and will remain in hospital for a three-month period where he will undertake vigorous bouts of rehabilitation.
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Doncaster Live reports that Neil, a self-employed mechanic who has obviously been left unable to work after his recent accident, has had a GoFundMe page set up by his niece, 37-year-old Rachel Selby - in hopes that money can be raised to cover her uncle's bills while he remains in hospital.
Rachel said: "He was only a couple of doors away from his house when he slipped on the pavement - on the old council slabs one was just a bit higher than the other - and he slipped. He had his hand in his pockets because he was cold, so had nothing to break his fall and he hit his head on the wall.
"He was laid in ice for about an hour when a bloke came up and asked if he was alright. He was just laid in a pool of blood and couldn't even get his hands out of his pockets. The bloke rang an ambulance which took a while to come, they said he was in spinal shock, he had an MRI scan which showed he has compressed his spinal cord and is now paralysed.
"It's scary how something can change in seconds. He has been lying counting ceiling tiles for two weeks and then he will be in rehab for three months.
"We're unsure if he will ever walk or have movement again - the hospital are not sure as to what extent his injury is and if his ability will come back again. It's a waiting game, but he wont be out of hospital for three months now."
Being out of work will have a huge impact on Neil's financial situation. His family are trying to raise as much as they can to help with the financial burden. All money will go to Neil for him to pay bills and use it on his recovery at the Northern General hospital in Sheffield.
You can donate to the GoFundMe page here.
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