Woman with spinal injury abseils down stadium

Trish Brookes said setting herself challenges helped her mental health

A woman from Cheshire who struggles to walk following a spinal injury has abseiled down Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium.

Trish Brookes from Crewe was injured in an freak accident almost three years ago when she slipped in the bath.

On Monday the 51-year-old abseiled 100ft (30.5m) down the main stand at Anfield.

Ms Brookes, who has previously swum with sharks, said she wanted to raise money for charity and show that there is life after spinal injury.

In July 2021, Ms Brookes fell onto the taps in her bath after slipping while washing her hair under the shower.

At first she could walk, but a few days later, she lost the feeling from her waist down.

She ended up having an operation to stop her from becoming paralysed, but was told there was no guarantee it would bring feeling back to her legs.

Ms Brookes now uses crutches and, at times, a wheelchair.

Taking on a challenge such as the abseil helped deal with the mental health impact of a spinal injury, she said.

"The lows that you get from it, I need something to focus on..get a little bit of positivity in your life and it can do so much for you."

Although she had been very nervous about abseiling, when she got to the top of the stadium the "nerves had gone", it was "absolutely amazing", and she immediately wanted to do it again.

Trish Brookes said the experience was amazing, and she wanted to do it again

Ms Brookes, who is raising money for the Spinal Injuries Association, said she is now considering what challenge to take on next, but it will be "bigger and better" than the abseil.