A Norfolk firefighter who has been left paralysed after a freak accident just hours into his stag do could be coming home later this week.
James Thorpe, 28, who is based at King's Lynn fire station, broke his neck and seven vertebrae in his spine after arriving on the holiday island of Mallorca last week. He is due to get married to his fiancé, Michaela Watson, who is now in Mallorca with him, on June 24.
She said: 'James is in better spirits. The insurance company is finalising the details when James can fly back home. We're hoping it could be in the next few days. We want to get him to Sheffield spinal hospital.
'The wedding is still on. James has told me not to cancel anything, and, hopefully, it will drive him on to get better.'
Last week, one of Mr Thorpe's firefighter friends, Simon Burch, who is based in Dereham, set up a JustGiving page. It has already raised nearly half the £20,000 target to help him recover.
Miss Watson, 32, an assistant technical manager, added: 'We are absolutely overwhelmed how much money people have donated. It's been amazing. I showed James the JustGiving page.
'We are so humbled, honestly it means the absolute world to me and James.'
She said when he arrived at Magaluf on the island of Mallorca he went straight to the beach.
She added: 'He was just paddling in the sea, which was only knee-height, and he tripped on something.
'He lost his balance and fell on the seabed – it was just a freak accident.'
The couple, who are both from Boston, are due to get married at Belvoir Castle, near Grantham.
To support Mr Thorpe, visit: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/James-thorpe?utm_id=107&utm_term=mXp8WkEZ8
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