FORMER garage owner Les Winter, who nearly died after falling from a ladder in Cornhill, Wellington, on August Bank Holiday Monday, continues to make progress towards full fitness.

Mr Winter was treated at the scene by the emergency services for his injuries, which included a fractured skull, ten broken ribs and a broken shoulder blade – he also broke his spleen and had blood clots.

An air ambulance was called but he was eventually taken to Musgrove Park Hospital by a land ambulance. He spent three weeks in hospital and managed to return to his home in Burgage for his 87th birthday on September 20. Doctors have been astounded at his recovery.

“Dad is doing really well, although he still has some way to go,” said his daughter Kim Thorne, who works part-time at Wellington Newsagents in Fore Street. “We never thought he would pull through.

“The other day he walked to pick up his paper for the first time since the accident.

“He has always been a fit man and before his accident he was walking miles every day.

“He should never have been up the ladder in the first place. He’s since been banned from going up the ladder. In fact, it’s been taken away from him.”