Writer, 62, ‘hours from death’ after tripping on cobbles that she claims are too big

A WRITER was “hours from death” after tripping up on cobbles that she claims are too big.

Catherine Grant, 62, needed life-saving brain surgery after tripping over a protruding cobble at Hull Marina and cracking her head open.

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Catherine Grant, 62, was ‘hours from death’ after tripping up on the road where the cobbles are ‘too big’[/caption]

The 62-year-old was walking on the cobbled paths to access shower facilities when she fell on the uneven stone, tripped, and hit her head.

She thought she had a concussion – but she returned to her boat anyway and slept for a few hours after the fall on June 19 last year.

It wasn’t until 10 days later Catherine collapsed in the shower after feeling unwell for a few days – and her husband rushed her to hospital.

Brain scans then found that the writer had a significant bleed on the brain.

The 62-year-old had to undergo a four-hour emergency operation – where her displaced brain was moved back into position and she had holes drilled into her skull.

She told HullLive: “I was walking to the shower facilities in the marina. The cobble was protruding upwards. I went straight down, it was awful.

“I didn’t want to go to hospital because of lockdown and Covid, I thought I wouldn’t bother them when they had more important things to deal with.

“The doctor said the bleed was so severe that if I had left it another 12 hours, I would have been dead.”

She was awake throughout the procedure and recalls a “bucket of blood” under the operating table – and she’s still suffering the effects of the brain surgery a year on.

The writer said she still suffers issues with her vision and get regular headaches after the ordeal.

Now, she is attempting to seek legal action against Hull City Council, which she said her lawyers have said it’s not “actionable.”

‘CATASTROPHIC’ COBBLES

Catherine added: “I have had no justice. The council has behaved shamefully, I’d love to know how many people have had accidents on the cobbles, as I know of a few.

“I can still write, but it’s taking me longer, I am slower now, and I don’t drive any more as I am scared of something happening with my health.

“It has had a catastrophic impact on my life. I have been very teary a lot of the time, and I am also angry.”

She believes the cobble protruded “too high” in comparison to others – and said it should be marked in paint to make pedestrians aware of the trip hazard.

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The cobble which caused Catherine’s brain bleed[/caption]

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The writer lived on the boat in the marina when the ordeal happened[/caption]