LOCAL couple Craig and Chloe Dennis’ lives have been dramatically altered by an accident which has left Craig with life changing injuries.

Craig (25), who lives near South Tawton, fell from a roof whilst helping on his parents farm at North Tawton, sustaining multiple injuries.

An emergency CT scan at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital revealed the devastating extent of his injuries which included a severe bleed to the brain, multiple fractures to his skull, major spinal damage as well as other injuries and complications.

Craig was rushed to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where he had emergency surgery on his brain from the specialist head trauma and neurological team. With the pressure on his brain continuing to increase, a second operation on his brain was required less than 24 hours later in order to save Craig’s life.

For more than three weeks following the accident Craig remained in intensive care.

Recovery was thwarted again and again by infection and a whole host of secondary complications resulting from the huge trauma his body had been subjected to. More procedures, scans and changes in medication occurred as medical staff fought to get Craig stable.

“It has been an incredibly difficult month. We’ve been on an emotional roller coaster with hope arriving only for despair to come again. Every time we dared to think we had passed the worst, we were hit by another crisis,” Chloe explained.

Once Craig’s brain injury became stable and safe enough the spinal team began to focus on his spinal trauma. This involved a nine-hour operation to stabilise his spine. Despite the surgery going to plan, Craig’s injuries are such that sadly he remains paralysed.

Craig is now out of intensive care and is on the neurological ward in Derriford awaiting further treatment, which will be the start of his long journey of rehabilitation.

The level of rehabilitation and recovery that Craig requires is complex due to the severity and combination of his injuries.

Frustratingly for Craig and his family there is a four-to-six week wait for a bed in a specialist unit so, although he is ready to begin his rehabilitation, he remains in Derriford.

Thoughts of the family have now turned to how they can best support Craig and ensure that he gets the best possible outcome from his next step in treatment.

Chloe continued: “His rehabilitation is going to be unimaginably tough and it is not a journey I can bare for him to go through alone.

“Juggling the business which I have worked so hard to build up alongside the need to be with Craig through his rehabilitation is going to be difficult, but given the physical and mental challenges Craig is facing, it is incredibly important to us both to be together through this.”

Chloe, who is a dance teacher in Okehampton and runs her own business, In Bloom Beauty, has begun a fundraising campaign to help cover some of the anticipated expenses and help ensure that she can support Craig during his rehabilitation.

Less than 24-hours after Chloe launched the crowd funder page, an amazing £15,000 of the £75,000 target was raised and this now stands at more than £33,000.

The family have been overwhelmed by people’s generosity and offers to help with fundraising events.

The couple have been together since they were 16, marrying four years ago.

They both come from farming backgrounds and have the support of that close-knit community.

In addition Craig is a passionate member of North Tawton Rugby Football Club, which is looking at ways to add to the fundraising campaign, knowing how devastated Craig will be not to play this sport he clearly loves so much.

Craig is the club’s First Team Captain.

Footsteps School of Dance, who Chloe teaches with, is also looking at organising a fundraising event.

“Chloe and Craig are a well-loved couple, hardworking, kind and fun to be around. Their lives have been turned upside down by this horrendous accident. Everyone who knows them wants to do something to help,” a family friend said.

Chloe is incredibly grateful for the huge amount of love, care and well wishes shown to Craig’s recovery during the past month.

On her fundraising page Chloe writes: “Now has come the time I would like to ask for your continued support and help to aid Craigs recovery and future care which after lots of meetings, discussions and research, is clear that this will cost well in excess of £75,000.

“This is a massive amount of money I am asking to raise, but it will make a huge difference to Craig’s recovery, adapting our house and to give him the best possible chance of regaining as much independence as he can.

Craig would always be the first person to help and support people, so we are hoping you can find it within your hearts to help us along this very long and difficult journey.”

You can donate through the Go Fund Me platform by searching “ Craig’s Journey”.