Scaffolder in intensive care after freak trampoline accident at mate’s house left him paralysed

Rob Harcourt had been working seven days a week to support his family amid the cost of living crisis

A freak trampoline accident has left a scaffolder in intensive care, permanently paralysed from the chest down. Rob Harcourt was at a friend's house when he tripped and fell onto a trampoline in the garden. The "popular guy and great friend" suffered a "catastrophic injury" which dislocated his neck and kinked his spinal cord, his friends wrote on a GoFundMe page launched to support the 37-year-old's partner Jade Higgins and her children during his recovery. Doctors say Rob, who had been working seven days a week to support his family amid the cost of living crisis, will likely be permanently paralysed from the chest down. [caption id="attachment_351902" align="alignnone" width="1118"] Rob and his partner Jade (GoFundMe)[/caption] Rob was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery following his accident, and has been heavily sedated following multiple operations. An update from Rob's mum Jackie last Wednesday said doctors weren't sure if he will ever be able to breathe on his own again, and specialists believe his paralysis is permanent. "I can't bear to see my beautiful boy in such a state, tubes and machines everywhere," Jackie wrote. Later that day, Rob suffered a cardiac arrest, which saw his heart stop for over three minutes. He was then put on blood thinners to cope with a clot, and wired up to a machine to try and cool down his high temperature. The family has been inundated with messages of support, which friend and fundraiser organiser, Amanda Jones, described as "so heartwarming". "Jade can’t wait to read them all to Rob when he’s awake," she added. A message from Rob's mum on the GoFundMe said: "I can't believe I'm writing this but my wonderful son Rob is in intensive care, he has had a terrible accident. He has a catastrophic injury to his neck and is paralysed from the chest down. The specialists have said it is permanent." At the time of writing, almost £5,000 had been donated through the fundraiser. Related links:

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