THE local community has rallied behind local resident, Jason Knight, who suffered life-changing injuries after being electrocuted by a 33,000-volt overhead power cable while cleaning windows.
Jason’s father, John, expressed his thanks and astonishment at the success of the fundraising campaign initiated to support Jason’s family and rehabilitation.
“The campaign is doing remarkably well and has exceeded our wildest hopes, having to date raised nearly £28,000 in just under four weeks,” said John. “The outpouring and support from the community has just been incredible.”
The accident in April saw Jason airlifted to Southmead Hospital where he immediately had his left forearm amputated and since then he has had 20 surgeries including the amputation of five toes, as well as tendons and muscles in his legs, which have left him unable to walk.
The fund-raising campaign, ‘Jason’s Cause’, is raising money for Jason’s rehabilitation and to support his young family, as well as supporting the organisations who saved his life – the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Southmead Hospital Charity, by donating 10% to each of them from the total donations received.
“We have some incredible fundraising events planned for the upcoming months including a skydive, an online prize draw with some spectacular prizes and a family fun day,” added John. “There are also fishing, football and golf tournaments taking place, as well as cycle rides and runs.
“Local schools, churches, nurseries and numerous local businesses have supported us, whether that’s displaying posters and charity collection pots or donating to the upcoming online prize draw. Premium Tubs of Trowbridge, who are based in the grounds of Trowbridge Garden Centre, are also donating a fully refurbished hot tub to aid Jason’s recovery and rehabilitation once he is finally able to come home from hospital.
“Nigel, the owner of Premium Tubs was particularly empathetic and touched by Jason’s story and wanted to do all that he could to help.
John added, “With electrocutions of this severity, we must take each day as it comes. Jason has already undergone 20 surgeries which include the amputation to his left forearm and also the removal of five toes plus a significant amount of dead tissue, tendons and muscle from both of his legs, which have rendered him unable to walk.
“Lower limb experts at Southmead Hospital are hopeful that they may be able to reconstruct Jason’s legs and feet to enable him to ‘walk’ but the extent to which he will be able to do this, unaided, is yet to be known.
“Jason’s journey so far has been an extremely turbulent one, with concerns for his internal organs especially his kidneys, as well as fighting off numerous infections and blood clots which placed him under critical risk during his time in the Intensive Care Unit.
“He is being kept under the watchful eye of top lower limb specialists and plastic surgeons who, in a few weeks, are scheduled to carry out a major and complex operation in an attempt to ‘reconstruct’ his feet and legs.
“Jason remains positive and determined and sends his love and gratitude for everything the community is doing to not only support his rehabilitation, but also the support that has been provided to the whole family.”
A prize draw – ‘Jason’s Cause Ultimate Local Prize Draw’ – is now open on the Crowdfunder platform. “The draw offers some spectacular prizes,” said John. “They include a brand-new Mulberry Bayswater leather heavy grain handbag worth £1,395; four day passes into Center Parcs Longleat; over £250 worth of ESPA beauty products courtesy of THG Labs in Frome; car valet vouchers; meal vouchers; afternoon tea vouchers, plus many more.”
When the accident happened, Jason was working weekends as a self-employed window cleaner in Westbury, to support his young family – his wife Sara, their 7-year-old daughter and 18-month-old twin girls.
The family decided to set up ‘Jason’s’ Cause’ via a Go Fund Me page to provide a way for those who have been touched by Jason’s story and who would like to provide support at this incredibly difficult time. The cause also looks to raise awareness of the dangers that exposed overhead power cables pose, particularly those in the vicinity of a domestic setting which are not insulated and marked.
“Jason’s story is a harsh realisation of the dangers these uninsulated power lines pose and is a warning to us all of the potential for electricity to ‘jump’, even when the victim has not come into direct contact with it,” said John.
• To enter the prize draw, please head to https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/jasonscause or use the QR Code. It will close on Wednesday 3rd July at 12 noon with the winners being notified the following day.
• If you would like to donate to Jason’s Cause, the link to the Go Fund Me page is: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jasons-rehabilitation (QR code attached)
