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One Punch Destroyed My Husband's Life
25 Sep
Summary
- A single punch left Mark with a fractured skull and brain bleed.
- Nicola's husband Mark was jailed for three years for grievous bodily harm.
- The family now relies on benefits as Nicola is Mark's full-time carer.
Nicola Fairley's first date night in a while with her husband, Mark, on June 4, 2022, took a tragic turn. Mark, who had too much to drink at an Ed Sheeran concert, was ejected after disrupting the performance. Nicola, angry at his behavior, decided not to accompany him to the hospital.
However, mere hours later, police informed Nicola that Mark's condition had worsened significantly. He had suffered a fractured skull and a brain bleed, necessitating the removal of half his skull and a four-day induced coma.
Mark spent a month in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle before returning home in July 2022. His recovery was arduous, involving relearning basic skills due to his brain injury. The man who punched him, James Oxley, received a three-year prison sentence in September 2023 for grievous bodily harm.
Nicola now acts as Mark's full-time carer, managing his short-term memory deficits and need for constant supervision. The family's finances depend on benefits, as Nicola works only six hours a week as a school lunchtime supervisor. Despite the challenges, the couple welcomed their fourth child, Bobby, in 2023, who Nicola feels brought a sense of salvation.
