A pensioner from Glasgow has been left housebound after she stepped on a loose slab in the city centre and broke her hip.
Morag Herbertson, 80, was going about her day on February 27, as she walked towards Argyle Street she suddenly slammed into the pavement outside Pizza Hut at the four corners.
Prior to the fateful fall, the Riddrie woman had enjoyed a very active lifestyle and was always out the house.
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She told Glasgow Live: "I used to go out four days a week because I don't have family in Glasgow.
"It's always get up, get dressed, get out, go for your breakfast. At 9.30am I'd be in the city centre. That morning there were quite a lot of people on the bus.
"I got off and walked towards Argyle Street. I was just at Pizza Hut when I hadn't a clue about what happened. One minute I was walking the next minute I was on the pavement.
"I thought I had tripped. I remember that I was lying on my back and for the half hour I was there I told people to not touch my leg.
"The ambulance scooped me up and it was half an hour back before I was in hospital. We arrived at half 10 but I wasn't taken up to a ward until 1.50pm.
"I was told I'd get the operation on Tuesday, however, it ended up being the Wednesday morning."
Following the incident she has been left feeling like those living in the neighbouring Barlinnie Prison.
Morag has not stepped outside since the accident and has only recently been given the green light to take the stairs to the second floor of her flat.
The 80-year-old said: "I can't get out. I've only been allowed back upstairs recently and that's where my bedroom is.
"My son brought my bed downstairs to the living room. The therapists came recently to check the stairs outside and they said there is no way I could go out until a rail is put up.
"I think the prisoners in Barlinnie have a better time than me because I can't do anything.
"I am waiting for someone to now look at my shower because carers have looked at it and told me I can't use it."
The sprightly pensioner has placed the blame on the council's shoulders after the faulty slab has completely destroyed her quality of life.
Morag said: "The pain in my hip is still a seven or eight out of 10."
However, the pensioner was told by solicitors that Glasgow City Council will not take any liability because the slab had not been reported prior to the incident.
The news disappointed the 80-year-old as she feels like she is being punished for something that wasn't her fault.
She said: "When I got the phone call from Digby Brown to say they couldn't proceed because Glasgow City Council don't have proof that it was reported before I fell and it would be thrown out of court.
"It was all about ifs. I haven't been out the house since February 27, which is the day I arrived at hospital.
"The ambulance brought me back to my room.
"All I've been doing is knitting topsy turvy dolls and now I've ran out of wool."
The council claim that the loose slab which injured Morag has now been fixed and that they have received no claim regarding the incident.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “We have received no claim in relation to this incident, either from the member of the public or from her solicitor.
“All claims in relation to the roads network are determined on the individual merits of each case and within the context of our inspection and repairs policy.
“The paving slab in question has been assessed by our roads team and a repair undertaken.”
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