Ceiling collapses on boys playing: Brothers' lucky escape as plaster crashes down at north Hull home
A FAMILY had a lucky escape when a ceiling collapsed on to two brothers as they played.
Julie Davies believes sons Darren, three, and Kristian, four, escaped serious injury by inches.
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Shook up: Julie Davies with her sons Kristian, four, and Darren, three, under the newly replastered ceiling.
The drama happened on Saturday while Miss Davies was with her seven-month-old daughter Crystal, in the living room.
Julie, who is four months pregnant, said: "Darren came running downstairs shouting, 'Mummy, mummy, the roof has come down.'
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"I ran upstairs and debris was everywhere, including on Darren's bed.
"The ceiling had come down on top of them. They were covered in dust and bits of plaster.
"The larger bits from the roof had just missed them."
Most of the boys' toys bought for Christmas have been destroyed, she said.
Julie, who moved into the privately rented property five years ago and had recently decorated it, said: "The boys are really upset.
"Everything is ruined."
The family are sleeping in their living room until repairs are done.
Julie, 23, claims the workman employed by the woman who owns the house in Easethorpe, Orchard Park, blamed her for the carnage.
She said: "I was told it was my fault because I had not cleaned the gutters.
"I am four months' pregnant and a single mum of three – how was I supposed to have cleaned them?"
The owner of the property was approached by the Mail last night and asked to comment, but she refused to discuss the situation.
She said: "The tenant can make a formal complaint if she wishes."
Les Bower, owner LB Builders, of east Hull, which is not involved in this case, says gutters should be cleaned regularly.
Mr Bower, who has 42 years' experience in the building trade, said: "It's possible a build-up of water, caused by blocked gullies, could bring down a ceiling.
"The plaster and insulation will keep absorbing water until it can not take no more, then it will collapse.
"Unless it's stated in this woman's rental agreement that she is responsible for getting the gullies cleaned, I'd have thought the owner would be responsible.
"Repairing the damage would cost anywhere from £300 to £500, depending on the size of the hole."
Comments
by funky15
Thursday, January 10 2013, 3:39AM
“surely she was on her back enough to realise there was a damp patch on the ceiling!”
by funky15
Thursday, January 10 2013, 1:25AM
“i will judge as i as a woman who has 2 kids, have worked all my life, bought my house , had to maintain it , insure it , do repairs , etc, but yet my kids have ate , maybe not the best of foods but a proper cooked meal .who do i turn to when my boiler breaks or my windows are leaking, oh thats right its ME.”
by scoobyears
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 6:20PM
“that's it, keep popping them out... you leach !!”
by Strangley
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 3:02PM
“Oliver Mellows,Handyman.
Gutters cleaned. light garden work undertaken, odd jobs, lady of the house serviced etc.”
by darkchuck
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 1:16PM
“congrats to funky15 for the first use of the word "bairns" in this story, i thought it was never going to happen.”
by vlamplough
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 9:29AM
“why dont you all back of she is a mum who cares for her kids and is obviously given everyone a warning i like just off orchard park and believe me the houses arnt fab built they can break at any min hence council wanting to rip them down.Please back of her maybe read it again without judging shes sending a warning not to be frown upon or slated !”
by Huckleberry
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 8:32AM
“"I am four months' pregnant and a single mum of three – how was I supposed to have cleaned them?"
Well you where not single four month ago, where is the children's farther(s) is he hiding in the shed until the news crews go, don't want to loose any money from the council by admitting your co-habiting after all.”
by scooter234
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 7:33AM
“@unified, what a bore you are, she is clearly a benefit scrounger with no intentions of working as she states, "she is pregnant and cannot do anything". At 23 she is a disgrace to our society which the likes of you "unified" have created with your simple minded views that everyone deserves everything for nought. The benefit system was put there to help those that had fallen on hard times, not to give to those who are too greedy and lazy to earn their own rewards. This women is a prime example of how wrong and easy it is to gain a living from benefits.”
by funky15
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 3:39AM
“this makes me sad, those poor bairns, shes how old, having her 4th child, and if the landlady isnt paying for it ,the benefit system is”
by bt13jz
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 12:35AM
“The children are genuinely scared because they have seen 101 Dalmatians ...”