Accident victim's 18 months of agony

Gary Shore (22), was left with a broken back, neck and pelvis and severe head injuries when his car swerved off the road and landed on its roof in woodland off Upper Wortley Road in November 2008.

His car was reported to police at 9.45am but despite a search by a Police Community Support Officer, Gary was not found until 2.45pm following an emergency call.

A report published by the Independent Police Complaints Commission found that “significant mistakes” were made by South Yorkshire Police which made his primary injuries and condition much worse.

The family appointed Irwin Mitchell solicitors to fight the police for compensation and the case is ongoing.

But as the battle goes on, Gary–who only left Rotherham General Hospital’s rehabilitation centre last month–is still unable to return home because his parents’ Kimberworth two-storey council house is not suitable and no other council properties have become available that meet the family’s requirements.

As a result, his parents Paul and Sharon and twin brother Glenn, undertake a 30-minute journey every day to visit him at Dearnevale Care Home in Grimethorpe.

Sharon (42), said: “We are on the priority-plus waiting list, but so far the only house that we thought would be suitable turned out to be too small.

“Gary can’t use a stairlift and we really need a bungalow with three bedrooms, a wet room and enough room for Gary to move around in his wheelchair and be able to get in and out.”

Gary, who has daily physiotherapy, was allowed home for a few days at Christmas but the family struggled to help him move around their house.

They have asked Rotherham Borough Council to knock through to the adjoining empty council property but housing officers say that the waiting list is too long to lose a property.

Sharon said that despite becoming frustrated, Gary was keeping positive and had become a popular character because of his sense of humour.

She said: “He’s happy most of the time and is really strong but he does have bad days.

“He is feeding himself and has started to get use back in his right arm. He’s got short-term memory loss and will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He will need 24-hour care and can never be left on his own.

“All he really wants is to come home.”

The family is also lodging an appeal with the DWP to get disability living allowance for

Gary to pay for a specially adapted vehicle.

Sharon added: “They told us we couldn’t get any financial support because Gary wasn’t living at home, but we know other people in his situation who have got funding.

It’s so hard emotionally and even though he was well looked after in hospital and rehab, we don’t feel like we’ve had the right support from the start.”

A council spokeswoman said that the authority had every sympathy for Gary and his family.

She added: “The adaptations service has reviewed the option of making alterations to their present property, in particular the possibilities of building a single storey extension.

“Unfortunately, due to the lay-out of the property and the identified extensive needs of the client, this is not possible.”