Bradford woman speaks out after horror 40ft balcony fall

Sophie Bracken, 23, of Thackley, broke her back, pelvis, legs and shattered her ankle in 30 places after landing on a concrete pavement.

She had been celebrating a friend’s birthday when she opened the window of her friend’s fourth-floor apartment to get some fresh air. She got too close to the edge and lost her balance. She fell 40ft onto the pavement below, landing on her back.

The fall happened during the early hours of Sunday, September 4 and her screams for help were eventually heard by a taxi passenger who got the driver to pull over and help.

Doctors feared Sophie would be permanently paralysed, but has taken her first steps at home, 12-weeks after the fall.

Sophie was first taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary, and then to Salford Royal, home to Greater Manchester Major Trauma Centre (MTC). As Sophie lay in hospital coming to terms with her life-changing injuries, all she wanted was her mum.

But her mother, Rachel Clapman, 60, of Idle, Bradford, a nurse at Bradford Royal Infirmary, faced a six-hour return journey via public transport and couldn’t afford a hotel.

She slept at the hospital so she could stay by Sophie’s side. Rachel slept on hard benches, a windowsill, plastic chairs. She even got moved on by hospital security in the early hours of the morning as she didn’t want to leave her.

Sophie Bracken, 23, recovering from her fall in hospital (Image: Day One Trauma Support)

She said: “Due to the trauma and stress, I think my mind has blocked out a lot of the pain and feelings I had at the time. I remember hitting the ground and feeling my back break.

“I remember worrying more about my family and how I was going to get in touch with my mum, rather than my injuries.

“The moment mum got to me, was a sense of comfort. I had a feeling that everything will be OK, even though everything wasn’t OK.

“Having my mum there impacted my recovery in such a positive way. I don’t think I could have got through it without having my family with me."

Sophie rests in hospital following her fall (Image: Day One Trauma Support)

Sophie is among people from Yorkshire speaking about their injuries for the first time to raise awareness of Day One Trauma Support. They have featured in videos for the charity’s Christmas appeal so it can help even more people with life-changing injuries.

A small grant from Day One Trauma Support meant Rachel had a bed for the night close to the hospital and was able to be reunited with her daughter.

Sophie added: “The care I received was fantastic. I was lucky to be in one of the best hospitals in the country. But once you leave the nurses on the ward, you do feel on your own and that you have to put things in place yourself.

“Anybody could find themselves in my situation and in need of help from Day One. That’s why I would encourage anyone to donate to Day One and help them be there for other people like me.”

Rachel said: “Sophie still has a long way to go. But the support we continue to receive from Day One is making such a positive impact on her recovery.”

Meanwhile, Michal Stanislawczuk, 37, of Eccleshill, who was hit by a van while he cycled to work has also backed the charity’s campaign.

Michal Stanislawczuk, 37, of Eccleshill, who was hit by a van, has also backed the charity's Christmas campaign (Image: Day One Trauma Support)

Since moving to Yorkshire from Poland 16 years ago, Michal had set up his own marketing business, but had taken on labour work during lockdown. This meant a daily commute from Bradford to Harrogate.

During the week of the crash, his car had broken down so he was cycling to the train station, in the rain. He had several broken bones and was taken to the Major Trauma Centre at Leeds General Infirmary.

As he was self-employed and living on his own, he worried about money and getting clothes and toiletries as he had nobody who could visit him.

Day One provided him with clothes and put him in touch with other charities to provide equipment at home as he still finds it difficult to walk.

He said: “The pain was unreal. I’m self-employed. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid. I had tears in my eyes.”

Go to dayonetrauma.org/donate to make a donation.

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