Bradley Lowery’s father suffers life-changing burns and is left unable to work for his family after construction company is fined
Bradley Lowery’s father has suffered life-changing burns and is now unable to work, it has been revealed.
Carl Lowerythen 37, was struck by an electrical explosion at work in 2020, severely burning his arms and face, forcing him to relearn how to use one hand.
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The trader underwent several operations, including a skin graft on his thigh.
It’s another blow to the Lowery family… son Bradley died of cancer six years old 2017 after winning the hearts of football fans around the world.
Enthusiasts raised more than £700,000 to pay for Bradley receive antibody treatment New York to help fight his cancer.
But his parents Carl and Gemma was later given the tragic news that his cancer had grown and become terminal.
At the time of the accident in 2020, Carl was working for SRE Cabling and Jointing Limited, carrying out cabling and connection work on the construction of new apartment blocks in Salford.
Carl and a colleague were working on the building’s main switchboard when a nut slipped through a gap in a security panel and rolled into live bus rails, causing the “electrical flash.”
He was blown back and severely burned.
In a victim impact statement, Carl said: “Even when Bradley was bad, I was working. Since the accident I have not been able to work mentally or physically.
“My left hand is my dominant hand and after the accident I had no grip anymore. I had to try to learn to use my non-dominant hand.”
Aberla M&E Limited, which had subcontracted the work to SRE, was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in costs at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
HSE Inspector Lisa Bailey said: “This incident has had life-changing consequences for Carl and his family.
“It could have been prevented if the company had actively monitored and managed procedures to identify risks and prevent incidents.
“Working with electricity is a high-risk activity and safety must be a priority. Proper planning to ensure risks are eliminated during the system design phase is essential.”
Carl’s son Bradley captured hearts across the country and was made a mascot Sunderlands Premier League match at home to Everton in September 2016, with the youngster then meeting his “hero” Defoe.
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In a recorded moment when they met, little Bradley could be heard asking “where’s Jermaine” before meeting the then Sunderland captain.
In a touching moment, the pair then compared their matching football boots.
From there, their connection blossomed and the youngster became a household name across Britain.
Bradley, from Blackhall Coliery, Co.Durhamwas just 18 months old when he was diagnosed neuroblastoma in 2013.
Little Bradley underwent “tumor shrinking treatment” at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, but the cancer continued to spread.
Nevertheless, Bradley continued his fight alongside “best friend” Defoethat the young person would visit regularly.
My left hand is my dominant hand and after the accident I had no grip. I had to try to learn to use my non-dominant hand
Carl Lowery
Heartwarming photos from February 2017 saw Defoe snuggled up in bed next to Bradley, surrounded by Sunderland merchandise.
After the visit, Defoe said, “As soon as I walked into the room, he jumped up, grabbed me and said, ‘Get in bed!’
“He got the covers over me and said to his mother, ‘Can you turn off the lights?’ He I just wanted to cuddle and go to sleep.”
Driven by Defoe’s dedicated support, Bradley asked for as many Christmas cards as possible.
His wish was granted when truckloads of Royal Mail vans were loaded yielded no less than 280,000 cards and more than 75 packages with gifts.
Sports stars like Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and even former Prime Minister Tony Blair sent cards.
In January 2017, Match of the Day awarded him joint goal of the month for his penalty against Chelsea player Asmir Begović.
Bradley then continued Leading England to Wembley next to his hero Defoe in March 2017.
Then-skipper Joe Hart swapped places with Defoe in the tunnel so he and Bradley could take their first steps onto the pitch, holding hands.
But in the months that followed, Bradley’s condition worsened and in May 2017 he was taken home for palliative care.
Jermain Defoe talks about how Bradley Lowery changed his life
In a Interview from 2017 with This Morning, Jermaine Defoe revealed how Bradley changed his life.
Defoe said: “He influenced my life massively, to be honest it was obviously difficult because at times I could see Brad was in pain and I just didn’t want to leave him.
“But his fight and his strength, it went so far.”
The former Sunderland striker also described his bond with Brad as “special”.
Bradley’s parents Gemma and Carl also spoke openly about their son’s struggles the rare form of cancer which Gemma described as a ‘cruel’ disease.
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