'Our son can finally come home because of DIY SOS'

Daniel needs hoists and help with all aspects of his personal care

The family of a teenager who can finally return home from a three-year hospital stay after their home was transformed by the BBC's DIY SOS team have said having him back "is like winning the lottery".

Daniel Flemen, now 16, had surgery for a brain tumour three years ago and now requires non-invasive ventilation at night, which his family home was not equipped for.

But DIY SOS team made adaptions to the home in Freckleton in Lancashire meaning Daniel, who is slowly recovering, can finally return.

His father Nigel Flemen said: "It's a momentous day. We thought this was going to be our lives, the travelling and everything, we thought our lives would just be in a washing machine forever."

The DIY SOS team has transformed the house so Daniel can live and recover at home

"Dan's coming home, he's going to have a life and a chance to get the rehabilitation and a chance to get better in a better environment," he said.

"It's like winning the lottery.

Dan is expected to leave Manchester Children's Hospital later and the family will be reunited for the first time in years.

Dan's mother Julie said the pair "haven't really been a couple" for the last three years, as she stayed at the hospital and Mr Flemen had to work.

"We'll open the door and it'll just be a big sigh of relief that we're finally back," Mr Flemen said.

"It's going to be a very emotional day for us and for Dan, he just can't wait to get out.

"He's been counting the sleeps down, just like Christmas."

Daniel, now 16, went to a GP in October 2022 with flu-like symptoms and a sore throat, and he was later sent to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for tests, including a CT scan.

The family were told Daniel had a mass on his brain that was probably a tumour, a diagnosis that was later confirmed at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

He had a stroke during a 12-hour emergency operation to save his life, which left him unresponsive and in intensive care for three months.

The house transformation will be revealed on BBC One next year.