- He suffered
- countless attacks
- throughout his life;
- he would fall
- like a tree
- to the ground.
- He suffered
- from meningitis
- at five months old.
- It left him brain damaged;
- severe epilepsy.
- He had his first attack when he was six.
- Despite heavy medication
- he was taken to hospital regularly.
- He worked until he was 30,
- but his condition was so severe
- he had to leave.
- He did not know when a fit would come.
- Completely random.
- He never went ten days without one.
- He had suffered
- a broken nose
- cheekbone
- jaw.
- He had lost his front teeth.
- He had split his head open
- after hitting the pavement
- during attacks.
- He received a letter in March.
- He had to attend a
- ‘work related activity group’
- or his benefits could be cut.
- He appealed:
- ‘I have never
- been able to work
- due to my epilepsy.
- I had a job
- but I lost my job
- because they could no longer cope
- with my attacks.’
- The next letter, in June, informed him
- his appeal had been rejected.
- His family struggled to gain
- detailed medical records
- of his hospital visits
- to make a second appeal.
- He was given a month to get the information.
- He became more and more worried.
- On the day
- his parents went round
- for him to sign the appeal letter.
- He had saved up enough to buy his own home.
- His family helped him
- make it safe,
- a specially made bed, cushions
- scattered to break any falls,
- child-safe furniture.
- With the help of benefits
- he lived an independent life.
- The door was open.
- The curtains were closed.
- He had been alone for 19 years.
- He did not drink, smoke,
- had the most frugal existence.
- He did gardening,
- wood work,
- love bird watching, photography,
- walking.
- His parents went into the house
- and found him
- hanging in his bedroom.
[Daily Mirror, 23/09/2014, Man with brain damage and ‘uncontrolled’ epilepsy hanged himself when DWP threatened to cut benefits]