A grandfather who was paralysed from the waist down after falling through a skylight opening at an Altrincham property has spoken of his devastation - as the principal contractor was fined following a health and safety prosecution.
Adam Kirkpatrick, 53, was working on a house in the town in November 2023 when a piece of plyboard placed over roof light openings gave way beneath him. He was found injured by his son – the only other person on site – who raised the alarm.
The joiner suffered a head injury, fractured ribs, a fractured sternum and a complete spinal cord injury, according to the Health and Safety Executive.
Speaking after the court case, Mr Kirkpatrick paid tribute to the medical staff who treated him.
"They have saved my life," he said, adding that he wouldn't be here without the NHS.
He said: "I have worked in the construction industry since leaving school. I loved my job. I have always been able to provide for my family. Before the accident my wife had gone part time and we were making plans for retirement and spending more time with our grandchildren.
"This all changed due to the accident. It has gone from me being a provider for the family to having to rely on other people. This accident has impacted my health. I have no feeling below my belly button, I suffer with severe nerve pain and have to self-catheter."
His wife Julie described the moment she learned he would never walk again.
"On the day I was told that Adam would never walk again our world was turned upside down. Adam just loved to work. He lived for what he did and did it all for his family," she said.
"It breaks my heart that Adam will never chase after his grandchildren again. He will never be able to play football with the boys or dance with his granddaughter. Everything my husband worked so hard for was to enjoy retirement and spend time with his grandchildren. That dream has been shattered since the accident."
JLM Solutions Limited, of Elliott Street, Tyldesley, Wigan – the mechanical and engineering construction company contracted as principal contractor on the job – pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety regulations at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The firm was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,850 and a victim surcharge of £2,000.
The HSE, which brought the prosecution, found that JLM Solutions had subcontracted Mr Kirkpatrick to construct a timber frame for a new roof. The board he was walking across had not been secured.
Investigators concluded the company failed to properly plan, manage and monitor the roof work, and failed to ensure suitable measures were in place to prevent falls from height. A lack of adequate site supervision was also identified.
HSE Inspector Karen Farley said: "Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace death and serious injury. The risks are well known throughout the construction industry.
"This prosecution highlights the importance of properly managing work at height activities. Had suitable control measures been implemented, such as a safe working platform combined with appropriate supervision, this incident would not have occurred and Mr Kirkpatrick would not have sustained these significant life-changing injuries."
