Horror after daughter's 18th birthday party as mum rushed to hospital

A mum has been placed in an induced coma after suffering a devastating fall at home. Joanne Edwards, 54, was rushed to hospital after emergency services were called to her home in Tyldesley in the early hours of Sunday, October 6.

Just hours before the horrific fall, Joanne had been celebrating with family for her daughter's 18th birthday party. According to the family, Joanne had returned home and was going to use the toilet before she fell down the flight of stairs in her house.

Her husband, Darren Edwards, was still awake and immediately called the ambulance before alerting friends and family of Joanne's fall. Speaking to the M.E.N., her sister-in-law Nicola Connelly, says Joanne suffered three bleeds on her brain, eight broken ribs and fractured two vertebrae in her neck.

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"We'd all had a lovely time and we'd gone home," said Nicola. "Joanne had gone to bed, and next thing we know she's on the floor at the bottom of the stairs.

"We can only assume she's gone to use the toilet and we think she must have been feeling for the light switch on the landing and misjudged it. Darren was luckily still up and he heard her fall, and he phoned for the ambulance and he phoned for myself and my husband."

A JustGiving page has been set up to support Joanne's family. You can donate here.

Joanne has been in hospital for 11 days now receiving around the clock care by staff at the Salford Royal Hospital, whom the family have been grateful for.

Nicola said: "We're a really close family so most of us are here every single day. We take turns going in, all of us.

"There's a lot of us, we're just supporting each other. We have to wait and see how she is when she wakes up but they said it's going to be a long road to recovery."

The eldest of four, Joanne is well known in the tight knit Tyldesley community. As well as her 18-year-old daughter, Joanne had a 22-year-old son called Adam who sadly passed away after being hit by a train in 2015.

Over the years, Joanne and family have set up a group called Adam's Legacy Fund in memory of her son and to raise money for charity and raise awareness about mental health.

"She's the nicest person," said Nicola.

"She's given so much time over the last eight years to keep Adam's memory alive. She's a big community person and well known around Tyldesley, she grew up around Tyldesley and everyone knows everybody.

A JustGiving page has been set up to support Joanne's family. You can donate here.

Help and support

Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org, write to Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS (no more information needed) and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.

For support for people feeling suicidal, if you are concerned about someone or if you are bereaved by suicide see http://shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk

CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death. No one needs to feel alone as they deal with their grief. www.greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk

Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.

PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

Beat Eating Disorders: Beat provides helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders. These helplines are free to call from all phones. Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677, Studentline: 0808 801 0811, Youthline: 0808 801 0711. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Anorexia & Bulimia Care: ABC provide on-going care, emotional support and practical guidance for anyone affected by eating disorders, those struggling personally and parents, families and friends. Helpline: 03000 11 12 13. www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/

Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org

For information and links to charities and organisations that can help with substance abuse, visit https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/drugs/