A father who forgot his wife and children after a vile Christmas Eve attack by a stranger in front of his horrified family has revealed he’s still recovering a year later.
Ian Grimes, 40, was left with severe brain injuries after he was punched to the ground by a random attacker while walking back to his home near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, last December 24.
Former process developer Ian, whose wife Bethan and three young children were with him as the family had been enjoying a day out in Chester, hit his head on the pavement so hard during the attack that Bethan thought he was dead.
He suffered a subdural haematoma – a blood clot on his brain’s temporal lobe – a fractured skull, paralysed right vocal cord and brain swelling, and was rushed to a specialist brain hospital in Liverpool, The Walton Centre.
Ian Grimes, 40, forgot his wife Bethan and children – daughter Penny, five, and sons Casper, three, and Rufus, two – after a Christmas Eve attack by a stranger in front of his horrified family
Ian was left with severe brain injuries after he was punched to the ground by a random attacker while walking back to his home near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, last December 24
There he underwent two life-saving operations and was put in a coma.
After briefly waking up on Christmas Day, when Ian awoke after another three days in a coma, he had forgotten who he was, that he was married to Bethan and that he was a dad to daughter Penny, five, and sons Casper, three, and Rufus, two.
Incredibly, after three operations to remove pieces of his skull to alleviate pressure on his brain, and despite being left with severe tinnitus, hearing loss in his right ear, headaches, dizziness, depression, anxiety and amnesia, Ian is determined to enjoy this festive period to the full.
Over the course of this year he has relearned how to read and speak and got back into his hobby of music production.
Former process developer Ian, whose wife Bethan and three young children were with him as the family had been enjoying a day out in Chester, hit his head on the pavement so hard during the attack that Bethan thought he was dead. Pictured before the incident
Ian, pictured before with Bethan, said Christmas may never be the same, but he’s grateful he survived
And this Christmas, the family are looking forward to getting back to some of the annual traditions they missed last year, such as ham, baked camembert and homemade bread on Christmas Eve, with a special gift from Santa’s Elves for the children.
Ian said: ‘It’s coming up to a year since I was the victim of violence and its truly terrible consequences. I’m lucky to even be able to reflect on what happened at all.
‘Christmas may never be the same, as it will always have haunting memories attached to it.
‘It’s a strange time now – on one hand it is a reminder of the terrible trauma I, and my family and friends, endured.
After three operations (pictured afterwards) to remove pieces of his skull to alleviate pressure on his brain, and despite being left with severe tinnitus, hearing loss in his right ear, headaches, dizziness, depression, anxiety and amnesia, Ian is determined to enjoy this festive period to the full
‘But on the other, it’s a reminder I am a survivor! It’s a reminder there are so many wonderful people that rallied around to support me, my wife and children; not just those close to me, but complete strangers too.
‘Christmas is about remembering the positives of the year that has passed, being with the people you love and appreciating all that you have – which for me is such a lot.’
Dental nurse Bethan added: ‘Ian is really strong, each week his head gets less foggy.
‘He’s positive and determined about that future and especially determined to play with our kids as much as he used to.
‘We didn’t think he would be this far along with his recovery. Christmas feels like a strange time now but we are mostly positive.
Over the course of this year Ian has relearned how to read and speak and got back into his hobby of music production. Pictured: the scar from his operations
Dental nurse Bethan said her husband Ian is really strong and each week his head gets less foggy
Ian is positive and determined about his future and especially determined to play with his children (pictured) as much as he used to
‘Ian has lots of medical appointments due in the new year, but we are taking a breather from everything else to enjoy the Christmas break as a family.’
In November, Ian’s attacker Sean Jenkinson, 28, from Ellesmere Port, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm without intent.
After Ian came out of hospital, Bethan became his full-time carer.
The family were supported by The Brain Charity, a national charity based in Liverpool which helps people with brain injuries and all forms of neurological conditions, to receive legal advice, financial support and information on dealing with a new diagnosis.
Mother-of-three Bethan was so blown away by The Brain Charity’s support she is now going back to university to study Public Health and Wellbeing in the hope she can help people the way the charity helped her.
The family are calling for the public to donate to The Brain Charity’s #Sixmas appeal to support the one in six people in the UK living with a neurological condition.
Bethan said: ‘It was such a relief to know there was a charity out there dedicated to people with neurological conditions.
‘I hope one day I’ll be able to help other people the way The Brain Charity helped me.
‘The Brain Charity is a wonderful charity made up of a compassionate and dedicated team who have helped my family and me through this terrible trauma.
‘They help so many people in their darkest times, so I hope that we can all help them as they struggle through the pandemic.’
Ian added: ‘My recovery and rehabilitation, helped massively by family, friends, and professionals, has taken me to a place of relative wellbeing and I hope that continues.
‘The show must go on, because survival is the name of the game. For my wife and I, our thoughts are with the people that are experiencing something like this now. It is truly devastating.
‘We hope that they each have access to the support The Brain Charity have to offer despite the restrictions in place with the pandemic.’
Make a #Sixmas donation here and sign up as a #Sixmas fundraiser here. Read more about #Sixmas at the Brain Charity’s website.
Ian (pictured with his children) said his and Bethan’s thoughts are with people that are experiencing something similar to what they went through, adding that it’s ‘truly devastating’