A disabled dad has not left his apartment in three weeks after claiming that the elevator broke down.
David Tyson-Charteris has lived at The Anchorage in Southport for 14 years. The dad-of-two who lives on the top floor of the building on Kingsway said he has not been out since October 26.
David said he feels trapped in his own home and while he has carers who visit him, the isolation has had a serious impact on his mental health. The last time David went outside was for his birthday when he and a friend got stuck in the lift after coming home.
READ MORE: Man, in his 30s, taken to hospital after being shot in Speke
READ MORE: Boss' very public message to employee on his last day of work
David told the ECHO: “A few of us came back, my friend who is in an electric wheelchair got up in the lift. Then it came down for me and it broke down.
“I telephoned the management company and they got me out on the top floor. Then they could not get my mate down. They took him down on top of the lift and he said it was like Towering Inferno.”
The 58-year-old broke his neck in a skydiving accident nearly two decades ago, leaving him permanently in a wheelchair. David spoke to the ECHO in June about the poor condition of his apartment building.
The lift has now been fixed by Anthony James Estate Agents, the management company that runs the building. However, David said is “scared” to leave his home in case he gets stuck in the lift again.
In a document seen by the ECHO, service logs show that lift broke down on October 26 and was fixed the following week on Friday, November 3. David said that he is worried for other people on his floor who also suffer with mobility issues.
David added: “We have got two people on my floor in their eighties and they can’t get down the stairs on their own. One is an ex-Marine and walks with two sticks, he goes down on his knees… The kids that live here bring the shopping up for him because he can’t do it himself. So it is not just me.”
David said not being able to leave the apartment coupled with his spinal injuries is becoming “too much”.
He said: “I have been stuck in it once as have a lot of other people… I’m not sleeping and I have been to the doctors. I’m getting a stress reaction and having panic attacks. It is a lot to deal with.
"It freaked me out as I have no way of getting down… I have learned coping skills but this is just too much now on top of my spinal injury, I have nothing left to give."
A spokesperson for Anthony James said: "Everything that could be done has been done to affect a repair as quickly as possible to return the lift to working order.
“This has taken seven days and as you can see a variety of issues has been presented. Anthony James has thanked David for his tremendous support and patience throughout the repair and we are delighted that he is now able to access the lift again.”
Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here
Win a Tassimo My Way Machine worth £140 and enjoy your coffee shop favourite drinks at home
