Bingley family pays tribute to man left disabled by accident who died of seizure (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bingley family pays tribute to man left disabled by accident who died of seizure

8:10am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in News By Marc Meneaud, Aire Valley Chief Reporter

Tributes have been paid to a severely disabled Bingley man who died of a seizure while on holiday in the Midlands.

Bradford City fan Steve Firth, 48, had been visiting friends and staff at a care home in Shropshire when he died while he was eating dinner on July 4.

It is understood that Mr Firth, who required 24-hour care because of his disabilities, died despite the efforts of care home staff and air ambulance paramedics to resuscitate him.

His mum Enid Firth, of Mitchell Terrace, Bingley, said: “Steve used to go down to Ludlow because he really gelled with one of the patients down there. He went down on Wednesday and he rang me and was really happy and looking forward to it. They were all going to have a meal together.”

Steve’s family told the Telegraph & Argus that, despite suffering a serious accident in 1992 resulting in a head injury, blindness and other disabilities, he “never lost his fabulous sense of humour”.

They paid tribute to Mr Firth, who had been a keen cricketer in the Bradford Central League until he was left in a coma after falling through the roof of the mill where he worked while trying the retrieve a cricket ball during a lunchtime game.

His brother Colin Firth said Steve had played for Bingley Congs as a boy before moving to Sandy Lane and then to Eldwick and Gilstead, featuring in the T&A for his outstanding achievements. His most notable performances included those in the Bradford Central League’s prestigious Waddilove Cup Final in 1989 and 1990.

In the first, playing for Sandy Lane against Shelf, he went in to bat needing ten runs off the last two balls – hitting one for six before being caught out on the boundary and giving Shelf victory.

However, he made amends the following year winning the cup final with Eldwick and Gilstead against Harden.

Following Mr Firth’s accident, the then Bradford City team, including player-manager Frank Stapleton, made a tape for Mr Firth, which was played above his hospital bed until he began to wake from his coma.

Since the mid 1990s he had been a patient with the Vision Homes Association, which provided his care, firstly at its home in Cottingley and then in Clayton Heights, Bradford.

A spokesman said: “We have known his family for many years and our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.”