Nottinghamshire roofer who fell 35ft learns to walk again

Simon Bell fell from a two-storey building in May

A roofer who fell on to concrete from 35ft has said he has faced a long and hard battle to regain his independence.

Simon Bell, 58, suffered a brain injury, internal bleeding, internal organ damage, a fractured shoulder and broken ribs when he fell from a two-storey building in May.

He still has no memory of the accident, or his first six weeks in hospital.

But a mental and physical rehabilitation programme has left him facing a brighter future.

Recalling the day of his accident, Mr Bell, from Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, said: "I've been told that the customer came out to bring me a drink and found me on the ground, so they called for an ambulance; the air ambulance came out to me as well.

"I was in intensive care at the QMC [Queen's Medical Centre] for six weeks, and my body was in shutdown. I wasn't good - they had to remove my spleen, my liver and kidneys were damaged, and they kept pumping blood out of my lungs."

Mr Bell was unable to shower or walk when he was then taken to Linden Lodge at Nottingham City Hospital, but was determined to recover and started a programme of physical and mental rehabilitation.

Mr Bell, 58, was in intensive care for weeks

Psychologists worked with Mr Bell to assess his brain injury by doing simple maths tests and speed exercises, which helped recovery.

Mr Bell returned home in September to his wife, daughter and Labrador Rufus, who has now become his "unofficial therapy dog".

He said: "My brain struggled to adjust, which is what happens with brain damage, so it was a big step coming home, but I was pleased to be back.

"My family aren't keen on me going back to roofing, but it's all I've known for 30 years, so life will look a bit different in the future."

His wife, Jo Bell, said his move to Linden Lodge was a real change, but was very much "needed".

She said: "Simon's care since the accident has been fantastic, and the rehab staff have been excellent."