Home repairs team praised for swift response following accident
Our home repairs service has been praised for its exceptional response and support after a car crashed into the central Gateshead home of Mrs Norma Foreman.
The recent incident occurred when a vehicle mounted the pavement at speed, smashing through Mrs Foreman's garden fence, before coming to rest embedded in the gable end of her home. The collision left a large hole in the external brickwork, and a large crack which spread to the front elevation of the property. The impact also caused damage to the front door, internal plasterwork and décor, and narrowly missed the gas meter.
Mrs Foreman, pictured centre with her sister and Councillor Chris Buckley, Cabinet Member for Housing, was watching television at the time, and initially thought there had been an accident outside. She said:
"When I went out and saw all the neighbours in the street and the car in my house, I was in complete shock."
Unfortunately, Mrs Foreman was then taken to hospital, where she was diagnosed with having suffered a heart attack, believed to have been brought on by the distress of the incident.
Following notification from Northumbria Police, our emergency call-out team attended immediately, arranging for the gas supply to be capped as a precaution and for the area to be made safe. A cordon surrounding the property was also built until full repairs could begin.
After learning of Mrs Foreman's health situation, we prioritised the repair work to ensure she could return home as quickly as possible once discharged from hospital. She was provided with hotel accommodation, and our home repairs service maintained regular contact with her and her family throughout the process, providing updates on progress and reassurance about timescales.
A structural engineer inspected the property in the immediate aftermath of the incident, and repair work commenced just three days later. The extensive brickwork to repair the hole in the wall were completed in just two and a half days, with a new front door also fitted, allowing Mrs Foreman to return home only 11 days after the crash.
Mrs Foreman expressed her gratitude for our quick and caring response:
"They've been wonderful. The speed at which they got it done was remarkable - a huge relief. I was so pleased to get home with my little dog. The staff were fantastic - easy to talk to, always keeping me and my family informed, and genuinely concerned about how I was doing. I can't praise them enough."
Councillor Chris Buckley, Cabinet Member for Housing, commended the teams involved:
"Our first concern was always Mrs Foreman's safety and wellbeing. I'm incredibly proud of how our home repairs service, alongside our emergency teams, pulled together to act quickly and compassionately in what was a frightening situation. Getting Mrs Foreman safely back into her home in just over a week is testament to their dedication and professionalism."
We continue to offer support to Mrs Foreman as she settles back into her home following the incident.
Our home repairs service has been praised for its exceptional response and support after a car crashed into the central Gateshead home of Mrs Norma Foreman.
The recent incident occurred when a vehicle mounted the pavement at speed, smashing through Mrs Foreman's garden fence, before coming to rest embedded in the gable end of her home. The collision left a large hole in the external brickwork, and a large crack which spread to the front elevation of the property. The impact also caused damage to the front door, internal plasterwork and décor, and narrowly missed the gas meter.
Mrs Foreman, pictured centre with her sister and Councillor Chris Buckley, Cabinet Member for Housing, was watching television at the time, and initially thought there had been an accident outside. She said:
"When I went out and saw all the neighbours in the street and the car in my house, I was in complete shock."
Unfortunately, Mrs Foreman was then taken to hospital, where she was diagnosed with having suffered a heart attack, believed to have been brought on by the distress of the incident.
Following notification from Northumbria Police, our emergency call-out team attended immediately, arranging for the gas supply to be capped as a precaution and for the area to be made safe. A cordon surrounding the property was also built until full repairs could begin.
After learning of Mrs Foreman's health situation, we prioritised the repair work to ensure she could return home as quickly as possible once discharged from hospital. She was provided with hotel accommodation, and our home repairs service maintained regular contact with her and her family throughout the process, providing updates on progress and reassurance about timescales.
A structural engineer inspected the property in the immediate aftermath of the incident, and repair work commenced just three days later. The extensive brickwork to repair the hole in the wall were completed in just two and a half days, with a new front door also fitted, allowing Mrs Foreman to return home only 11 days after the crash.
Mrs Foreman expressed her gratitude for our quick and caring response:
"They've been wonderful. The speed at which they got it done was remarkable - a huge relief. I was so pleased to get home with my little dog. The staff were fantastic - easy to talk to, always keeping me and my family informed, and genuinely concerned about how I was doing. I can't praise them enough."
Councillor Chris Buckley, Cabinet Member for Housing, commended the teams involved:
"Our first concern was always Mrs Foreman's safety and wellbeing. I'm incredibly proud of how our home repairs service, alongside our emergency teams, pulled together to act quickly and compassionately in what was a frightening situation. Getting Mrs Foreman safely back into her home in just over a week is testament to their dedication and professionalism."
We continue to offer support to Mrs Foreman as she settles back into her home following the incident.
