A Hull City fan who broke his neck while celebrating the

Tigers' first-leg win over Watford has vowed to travel to

Wembley, despite wearing a neck-brace screwed into his

skull.

John Adams, 34, of Curlew Close, Bransholme, snapped one

bone and bent another in his neck after slipping on the grass

as he danced around a paddling pool at a family party to

celebrate the Tigers' win over Watford last Sunday.

The season ticket holder must now wear a halo neck brace – a

metal ring secured to the skull with pins and two metal rods

for the next 12 weeks.

Today, the father-of-four said despite the pain, nothing

could keep him from cheering on his team at Wembley.

He said: “It's devastating to have had this accident, but

I've been told I was millimetres away from paralysing myself so

I have been really lucky.

“I had to miss the second-leg home game on Wednesday even

though I had tickets, and that was a killer, but nothing will

stop me going to Wembley.”

Mr Adams should have been at the Watford first-leg match,

however being self-employed could not afford to take the time

off work, so chose to watch the game at a friend's house

instead.

He said: “I just couldn't afford the time off so I watched

the game on TV.

“After the final whistle we were celebrating in the garden

and I just slipped on the wet grass next to the paddling pool

and hit my head on the ground.

“I didn't even realise what I had done. I just had pins and

needles, but my wife, Jayne, insisted we went to hospital.”

Mr Adams got his Wembley ticket on Saturday afternoon thanks

to his wife queuing through the night.

He is also travelling to the game on the official supporters

bus with his wife and son Dillan, 10, and two nephews, Jordan,

16, and Callum, 15.

Mr Adams adopted his nephews in 2006 after the boys' father,

his cousin Shaun died, five years after their mother Sarah

died, both from Sudden

Adult Death Syndrome.

Mr Adams said: “It is a shame we can't all sit together.

I'll have to sit in the disabled area with my wife, and the

kids will have to sit in another area with our friends, which

is really disappointing, but at least we have all got

tickets.”

The family have also missed out on a holiday to Egypt that

was booked for Thursday, June 29.

They have lost £4,000 after paying for the holiday in full

and are unable to claim the money back on their holiday

insurance which came into effect from Tuesday, May 13 – two

days after the accident.

Mr Adams added: “It feels like we've had a spell of bad

luck, we were also flooded and only moved back into our house

in February.

“We've been through a lot as a family, but we get through it

together.

“We're all really looking forward to the match, nothing will

beat that.”

Mr Adams' mum, Barbara Young, of Lapwing Close, Bransholme,

said: “I was devastated when I found out about the

accident.

“John has gone through such a lot, then this happens when he

was enjoying himself with the kids.

“I'm worried about how he will get down to Wembley. It's so

uncomfortable for him.

“But he was determined not to miss the match.”

Rob Smith, marketing manager at the KC Stadium said Mr Adams

deserves special credit for being so determined to back the

Tigers.

He said: “We admire the gentleman's courage and his superb

support.

“It's a day people don't want to miss, but given his

circumstances I think he deserves special credit.

”We hope he has a great day and makes a full recovery.”