More than £1,000 raised overnight for Shoreham amputee’s new electric wheelchair

Tony Slark, of Fairfield Close, said the wheelchair would give him ‘a lot more freedom and independence’ after he had his leg amputated at the hip in March.

Friends, family and people he did not even know raised more than £1,000 for the wheelchair in just one night, while Kardinal Independent Living in Broadwater offered to make up the shortfall.

The 55-year-old said: “Everyone has been fantastic, I’m just totally over the moon.

“In this day and age, with everything else going on, I really didn’t think it would happen.”

Tony has had problems with his leg ever since he broke several bones in a motorbike accident in his 20s.

The incident left him in ‘constant pain’ and saw him undergo four hip replacements over the years.

In December, he was due to have his hip replaced again but fell unwell with what turned out to be sepsis.

His wife was told there was a chance he might not make it through – but he survived the treatment, only to be told by specialists in London that he would need to have his leg amputated.

Tony spent 10 days in hospital after the surgery before coming home, where he has been adjusting to life with one leg.

While it was difficult, he said: “I’m lucky, I have a positive attitude, I don’t think to give in. I push myself quite a lot.”

He was given a manual wheelchair by the NHS which was fine for using at home, but Tony struggled with it outdoors.

When trying to attend a hospital appointment, he found himself stuck at a pedestrian crossing, until to get himself across the road.

He said his new electric wheelchair, which arrived on Sunday, will give him more independence.

Now Tony is hoping to raise enough funds for a hoist, so he will be able to get it in and out of his car.

Tony, who currently works as a receptionist at a out-of-hours GP service, had further good news this week when he was offered a full time job as a patient transport service dispatcher with the South East Coast Ambulance Service in Worthing.

“It’s been a tough old ride but I’m coming through it,” he said.

Visit the fundraising page here.