Telford window cleaner fights for life after ladder fall
Thursday 18th November 2010, 3:07PM GMT.
A Telford window cleaner was today fighting for his life in hospital after falling from a ladder at a two-storey house.
Father-of-eight Simon Hill suffered serious head injuries when he fell while cleaning windows in Ketley.
He was airlifted to a specialist hospital, where his condition is critical.
Today wife Lizz said his family had been left devastated by the accident, which happened on Saturday.
The 45 year old was flown to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, where he is on a life support machine.
Mrs Hill, also 45, said surgeons had to remove part of his skull during a life-saving operation.
The couple, who live in Leegomery, have been married for 25 years and have eight children, ranging from four years old to 25.
Mr Hill was only discovered after a small boy spotted him lying on the grass of his client’s front garden.
Mrs Hill said: “I spoke to Simon on the phone half an hour before the police arrived on my doorstep. Two officers called and said Simon had been involved in an accident and his injuries were life-threatening.
“He was seen by a passer-by who was out with her young son. He said to his mother ‘there’s a man asleep on the grass’ and she called the emergency services.
“His parents flew home from France and he is on a life support machine. He’s very, very poorly. He has not come around at all.
“The children are absolutely devastated, but they are coping with it so well.”
Mrs Hill, who is a teacher at New College in Wellington, said her husband was undergoing brain scans every two days. She said he was well-known around Telford after becoming a window cleaner in the 1980s.
By Jason Lavan
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sorry to hear of this hope he pulls thru
as a window cleaner myself i appreciate the dangers of working of a ladder
bob
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Thanks Bob, Simon is still critically ill at the moment. Our children are obviously very upset but are doing their best to be brave. I am currently off work and trying to stay positive and keep everything together. Thanks for your thoughts.
Regards, Lizz
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How very sad.
My prayers go out to his wife and children x
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Thanks Kizzy, Simon is still critically ill at the moment but we are all trying to stay positive and hold everything toghether. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
Regards, Lizz
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OMG I’m so sorry to hear this! His children go to my sons school. Our thoughts and prayers are with Simon and his family
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Thanks Sally, Simon is still critically ill at the moment but we are all trying to stay positive and hold things together.
Is your son at Apley Wood or BRJ? We have kids at both. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
Regards, Lizz
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what awful news. he is such a lovely chap. He does our windows and has a cuppa if we are in. Such a happy pleasant man. Our thought and prayers are with Simon and all his family.
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Thanks Sharon, Simon is still critically ill at the moment but we are all trying to stay positive and hold things together. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
Regards Lizz
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My heart goes out to Simon and family, as a fellow window cleaner I know him and he such a friendly lovely guy. People underestimate the dangers of this job. Get well soon Simon. From everyone here at Clear View Windows.
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Thanks Andre, You are right, people do underestimate the dangers of the job, everytime you go up a ladder you are taking a risk, a risk which many people, including myself, wouldnt be able to take, I think people also underestimate how hard the job is and how many hours you have to spend in it when you cant actually earn money. for example, collecting money, driving from place to place and of course waiting for the weather to behave! I have alot of respect for anyone who window cleans for a living, I know I would be useless at it. Simon is still critically ill at the moment but we are all trying to stay positive and hold everything together. Make sure you guys stay safe, thanks for your thoughts.
Regards, Lizz
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We are very upset on hearing this news, we wish Simon,Liz and their family lots of strength and courage for the coming weeks.
Our thoughts are with you all, Simon is a great guy who we reguarly have a laugh with and at this time we send you our love and support.
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Kerry and Kath, Thanks for your thoughts and support. Simon is still critically ill at the moment, however, we are trying to stay positive and hold everything together. I have been signed off work which is making it more possible to keep stability for the kids.
Regards, Lizz
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So sorry to hear this of Simon my regards to his family, I also am a local window cleaner and know how slippy it can get this time of year, I urge other window cleaners who use ladders to put an old towel or cloth under the ladders if on a slippy surface. Lets hope and prey that Simon pulls through this.
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Roger, Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Simon is still critically ill at the moment, but we are all trying to stay positive and keep things going.
Regards, Lizz
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Very sorry to hear about Simon. We are all thinking about you guys. Hope he comes through ok.
Neil Fury and Family
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Neil, Thanks for your thoughts. Simon is still critically ill at the moment but we are trying to stay positive and keep everything going .
Regards, Lizz
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Hope he gets well soon. regards to the family.
Andy
(fellow window cleaner)
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Andy, Thanks, he is still critically ill at the moment but we are all staying positive and keeping life as normal as possible. You make sure you take care at work, window cleaning is a risky business.
Regards, Lizz
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Simon please get well soon, and regards to your Family. Gary.. Window cleaner Birmingham.
Let this be a message to other window cleaners who use ladders reading this tragic story. The water fed pole is the way forward, we do not need any more of this.
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Gary, Thanks for your thoughts for us. You are right ladders are risky things. Ironically Simon was gradually moving towards the water fed pole system when this tragedy happened. He is still critically ill at the moment, but we are all trying to carry on with life as normally as is possible under the circumstances and keep positive.
Regards, Lizz
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Such sad news, especially at this time .. Simon has cleaned our windows since we came here to Ketley Bank in 2006 .. a lovely man .. always a smile, and time for a chat ..
Hoping for the best
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I am a window cleaner in the US and am very saddened to hear of this. My prayers go out to him and his family.
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Patrick, Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Simon is still critically ill at the moment but we are doing our best to stay positive. I have been signed off work for a while and am trying to keep everything as stable as possible for the children.
Regards, Lizz
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Sorry to hear about Simon I to clean windows for a living.These ladders can be a dangerous evil.Let get rid of them for good.Get well my mate we will pray for you and your family.Keep strong.
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Richard, Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I agree with your views regarding ladders. Ironically Simon was slowly moving over to the water fed pole system when this happened. He is still critically ill at the moment but we are doing our best to stay positive and keep everything as normal as possible for the children.
Regards, Lizz
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get well soon m8, my thoughts are with you and ur family.ive known simon for a number of years hes a lovly bloke.im a window cleaner myself and and know the risks of the job we take every day. get well m8 from wayne and steven.
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Wayne and Steven, Thanks for your kind thoughts. I agree with you window cleaning is not only a physically hard job but a dangerous one too. Every time you climb a ladder, which you do several times a day, you take a risk. A risk which most of us, including myself, would not take. I have great respect for anyone who cleans windows for a living, I know I couldnt do it. Simon is still critically ill at the moment but we are trying our best to stay positive and keep life going on as normally as possible for the children. You two take care.
Regards, Lizz
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So shocked to hear about Simon as a couple of days before we were speaking to him in the Leegomery fish n chip shop. He’s cleaned our windows for quite a few years and what a great job he does.
Our thoughts are with Simon and his family
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Dave and Teresa, Thanks for thinking about us. Simon is still critically ill at the moment but we are all doing our best to keep positive and keep things as normal as possible for the children.
Regards, Lizz
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Dave and Teresa, Thanks for your kind thoughts. Simon is still critically ill at the moment but we are all doing our best to stay possitive and keep life as normal as possible for the children.
Regards, Lizz
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Ben, Thanks for your kind thoughts. Simon is still critically ill at the moment, however we are all trying to stay positive and keep everything as normal as is possible for the children.
Regards, Lizz
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This is Minnie, Daisy’s friend from Apley Wood. We will keep praying for Simon. Our thoughts are with you all. He will get better soon.
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Hi Lizz, many window cleaners like myself now know of the plight of Simon. We are all wishing he pulls through quickly. There are many window cleaning forum members all over the world following his accident. Strength to you & the kids Lizz,
regards Karl.
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