I broke my leg so badly in life-changing fall at the Regent Hotel in Cleveleys now I'm having it amputated
After suffering a horrific accident which left him with severe leg injuries and years of painful complications, Ant Ramsden was forced to confront the unthinkable and opt for amputation.
For his brother Adam Ramsden, 42, from Cleveleys, family comes first, however. And when Ant, 50, suffered life-changing injuries in 2022, Adam knew he had to do everything he could to help him rebuild his life.
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The Ramsden brothers ran a successful window-cleaning business together for over 12 years, often working side-by-side on properties across Cleveleys.
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Adam, said: “It was October 3, 2022 at the Regal Hotel in Cleveleys, where we were cleaning. We had done that job for eight years, every other week, no problem. My brother, he used to go up on the ladder on the middle row above the shops on the ledge.
“One morning, for reasons we don’t know, he just slipped. He felt the balls of his feet go toward the ledge and landed on both feet on the main street, right outside Heron Foods and Costa Coffee.”
Emergency services rushed Ant to hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries. But despite the best efforts of doctors and surgeons, complications continued to mount.
Adam, said: “The incident affected his life dramatically. We ran a window cleaning business together, and being self-employed, he received little support. I had to manage the business alone to keep things afloat.
Over the next three and a half years, Ant endured ten operations, blood clots, infections and even skin transplants.
“His legs were in a terrible state. He had a triple open compound fracture on his right leg with bone sticking out and he broke his ankle. On his left leg, he broke his heel, his ankle and his shin. It was a total mess.
“He had to have emergency operations, but complications kept arising. His left leg healed reasonably, but his right leg faced repeated problems: metal had to be put in and then taken out because of infections, a blood clot burst causing an open wound and he had a skin transplant that made his skin fragile.”
Now, Ant faces a decision no one should have to make: amputation of his right leg.
Adam said: “The final decision was made recently, although there’s no official date yet, it will be sooner rather than later because the pain is unbearable. Despite everyone’s best efforts, there’s no other option. His first consultation is March 24th.
“He struggled for about three years before he could finally return to work in childcare. This upcoming operation will mean being off work again.”
For Adam, supporting his brother isn’t just about covering medical costs. It’s about helping him regain independence and quality of life.
He said: “After the amputation, he has a long and tough recovery. Our goal is to get him the best prosthetic leg we can, so he can start again.”
Determined to make a difference, Adam signed up for the Manchester Marathon, which takes place on April 19.
He said: “I started fundraising earlier this year because I knew this was going to happen. Once the final decision was made, I went official. So far, we’ve raised well over £6,000. The support from friends, family, and even people we haven’t spoken to in years has been incredible.”
Adam’s commitment to his brother is unwavering, but he admits the journey hasn’t been easy.
He said: “Training for a marathon is tough, especially with everything else going on, but I have to do this for him. He’s been through so much and I want to make sure he has everything he needs.”
Ant, despite everything, has remained remarkably resilient. Adam, said: “He’s always smiling, always joking, even during the darkest moments.”
“Spending weeks in hospital, missing Christmas in the burns unit - it was devastating. But he’s a fighter and it’s been emotional to see how much people care.”
Adam hopes their story will inspire others to contribute to the fundraising effort. They are focused on giving him the best chance to rebuild his life and regain independence after everything he’s been through.
Adam said: “The fundraising money will help ensure he’s financially secure while off work again and enable us to get the best prosthetic leg possible.”