I’ve got months to live & I’m stuck in my flat because property manager won’t fix lift – I’ll die trapped like an animal
A MAN who claims has only months to live has told he is struck in his flat because the property manager won’t fix the lift.
Neil Barnes said he fells “trapped” in his tenth-storey flat in Cardiff, Wales, after the building’s only lift broke last month.
Neil was told by doctors he could have less than a year to live after being diagnosed with cancer in his bowel, lungs and spine.
But living in the 12-flat building at Victoria Wharf at Watkiss Way is an added nightmare to his daily struggle.
With the only lift in the building broken, he has to walk the stairs up to the 10th floor in the Roma block apartments.
The 69-year-old spends almost half an hour climbing the stairs to his apartment as he has to stop at each landing area on the way.
He told WalesOnline: “I’ve had problems with my back for a while but I’ve now been told it’s because the cancer has spread to my spine.
“It means it’s agony for me to climb the 162 steps.”
As a result, the retired engineer has now stopped leaving his home except for important health appointments.
And his only bit of outside space is a small balcony.
He fumed: “It’s claustrophobic, it feels like Covid again with the lockdowns.
“It’s tough on your wellbeing, but I’ve also got lots of appointments and things to sort out, with the hospice for example, which I’ve had to cancel.”
Mr Barnes claims the issue is also affecting other disabled residents in the building – including his 66-year-old wife.
He now blames the property management company First Port for not dong enough to fix the lift.
Neil slammed: “I don’t think they have a log or realise the number of people who have disabilities in this building.
“It’s been ten days and we’re in the same position and I haven’t left other than for an appointment and that was excruciating.
When he asked staff at Victoria Wharf to help fix the issue they said they couldn’t do anything for him, he claimed.
He added: “All we asked was if they could carry a fold-up chair up the stairs for me.
“Considering we pay a £4,000 annual maintenance fee, I’d have thought that the least they could do was help us up the stairs.”
“There should at the very least be more support so people don’t feel locked in their apartments.”
First Port reassured residents and claimed they are waiting for parts to complete repairing the lift.
A spokesperson told The Sun Online : “We fully understand the difficulties a lift outage can pose.
“Unfortunately, the lift requires a replacement part, which is also a vital safety component, meaning a temporary solution has not been possible.
“The required part is manufactured outside of the UK, which has delayed the necessary repairs.
“We understand the replacement part has now been dispatched and engineers are on standby to complete the repairs as soon as the part arrives, in the coming days.”
It comes after a worried mum said her three-week-old baby has been made ill by a mice-infested home.
She says her newborn suffered an infection after she found his cot riddled with droppings at their flat in Birmingham, West Midlands.
And she told how mice are even crawling across the family while they sleep.