1 | | | While sleeping in her grandmother’s | | | | | alerted by her screams and called the police. |
| | | flat, Nicky Birtles had a terrible | | 4 | 35 | | After being rushed to hospital, doctors told her she |
| | | nightmare: burglars had set fire to the | | | | | would be permanently crippled unless she lay flat on |
| | | flat, and the only way out was the | | | | | her back for three months. And even then they could |
| 5 | | first floor window. So Nicky threw | | | | | not guarantee she would recover. “I’d survived the fall, |
| | | herself through the window and fell 15 feet on to a | | | | | but lying there was a living hell,” Nicky recalled. “One |
| | | concrete path below. Her nightmare suddenly became | | | 40 | | day the doctor came along and drew a diagram of what |
| | | very real. She was so badly injured that it was feared | | | | | my spine looked like and what it would look like if I |
| | | she was paralysed. | | | | | were paralysed - it was all misshapen. That really |
2 | 10 | | Nicky’s ordeal started last May after an evening of | | | | | shocked me into lying still for the rest of the time. |
| | | baby-sitting for her aunt Julie’s three children at her | | 5 | | | “When I was in hospital the thought of my friends |
| | | grandmother’s flat. Just a month earlier Nicky’s uncle | | | 45 | | going out all the time was really hard to cope with. |
| | | Wayne had also stayed at the flat and was badly beaten | | | | | They would come and visit me and tell me what they’d |
| | | with a baseball bat after tackling two burglars. Nicky | | | | | been up to.” But Nicky didn’t give up and was |
| 15 | | said: “That was on my mind as | | | | | | gradually able to walk |
| | | I went to sleep but I convinced | | | | | after three months. |
| | | myself that I was safe in the | | 6 | 50 | | Nicky does not dwell |
| | | flat.” | | | | | on the nightmare that put |
3 | | | The next thing Nicky knew | | | | | her in hospital. “I haven’t |
| 20 | | she was dreaming that two | | | | | had a dream like it since |
| | | burglars had entered her room | | | | | but I certainly won’t sleep |
| | | and set fire to the flat. “I had to | | | 55 | | in my gran’s flat again. |
| | | get away, I was so scared. The | | | | | Every time I go there I get |
| | | nightmare was so realistic that I | | | | | the shivers!” |
| 25 | | could actually feel the flames | | 7 | | | The accident also made |
| | | burning my skin and I could | | | | | Nicky determined to make |
| | | smell it. I ran to the window | | | 60 | | the most of every second |
| | | and pulled it open and hurled | | | | | of her life. “I feel |
| | | myself out. I landed on the | | | | | differently now, I want to |
| 30 | | ground and tried to get up but | | | | | do more things because I |
| | | I couldn’t. I dragged myself | | | | | realise how close I came |
| | | along crying out for help.” | | | 65 | | to losing everything.” |
| | | Eventually a neighbour was | | |