Paul

I was a builder; self-employed doing one-off house extensions. I had quite a nice small business and felt good about life.

Farmers that I had previously done a barn conversion for rang me up one day and asked me to have a look at some sheets on a barn roof that were leaking.

I was busy during the week so I went out on a Saturday morning to have a look at it and decided to go back the following day and work on the lower levels. The sheets were only 12ft high and I felt so comfortable about doing the lower levels.

July 18, 2010. I went out to the property and removed one or two sheets. It started to rain so I came home, which was only four miles away, but then the weather cleared up so I went back to finish off the job.

I can't remember how or what happened but I fell through one of the openings. I assume it was because it was slippery. It was only 12ft, but I fell on a substantial cattle railing. I cracked my head and was knocked unconscious immediately. I was on my own, I had no scaffolding, and I had no duck boards.

"That two minute decision to do something I should not have done is something I have to pay for for the rest of my life"

A lady living in a farm house adjacent to the one I was working on was out walking her dogs and found me. She called the ambulance and I was airlifted to hospital.

I was in a coma for four months. I was never actually told I was paralysed. I think I had to ask the question a couple of times. My wife was told that I was not going to make it; she was told I probably would not be the same man I was before due to brain damage. Fortunately I recovered from that but I can't walk.

When I was in hospital I was unable to get in and out of bed by myself and had to use a hoist. The first time the nurses took me to have a shower I was laid out on a rubber bed and then it hit me - my dignity had gone.

It was a very frightening time. We did not have any money coming in for four months so everything we had had gone. Fortunately we had support from family and friends.

I miss everything that I used to be able to do, all the physical stuff. Even being able to walk the dogs or watching my wife take the bins out - I miss it dreadfully.

That two minute decision to do something I should not have done is something I have to pay for for the rest of my life.

I could have prevented that accident. I understand health and safety; I was an employer. I don't know why I didn't but I should have said "I'm not going to do the job until we have got x, y and z" and if they did not want me to do it in that manner then I should not have done the job.

Everything I know about health and safety I did wrong that day. I made a terrible mistake and I have to live with the consequences of that and so do my family.

Your wellbeing, your health and safety is in your own hands. Work safe, go home safe.

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Paul was named an Archangel, the highest honour in the RoSPA Guardian Angel Awards scheme, in 2015.

The inspirational speaker now uses his experience of a life-changing workplace accident to prevent the same happening to others. He can be booked for talks at www.lifeafteranaccident.co.uk.

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