Rome fall victim’s mother speaks of her relief

Sam Cummins, critically injured in a fall in Rome, returns home

RUGBY playing Sam Cummins, 22, critically injured in a fall from a third-floor window at a hostel in Rome two weeks ago, has been flown back to Devon to continue his recovery at a hospital near his Sidmouth home.

Speaking exclusively to the Sidmouth Herald from outside Exeter’s Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Wonford, shortly after his admittance on Wednesday, Sam’s mum Fiona described her son’s progress as “amazing”, adding: “He wants to know when his mates are going in to see him.

“He is good, very good, it is amazing. He was flown into Exeter Airport by the insurance company and ambulanced to Wonford.”

She said civil engineering student Sam, a former pupils at Colyton Grammar School, would have an operation on his wrist this week and she had no idea how long he would have to remain in hospital.

Fiona, who works for Friends Provident, said she could not go back to Italy to return with Sam in the air ambulance Lear jet, as she needed to stay in Sidmouth “liaising with the consulate and Italian police”.

She added: “I am so relieved. He is healing and it is a waiting game. He is talking and wants to go home to watch the football.”

Fiona said she had been inundated with messages of support from well-wishers, work colleagues and friends from Sidmouth.

Sam’s plight was headlined after he fell from the hostel window during a week’s holiday in Rome.

He was rushed to Umberto I Rome Hospital in a critical condition and his mother flew out there, with friend Mike Ford, to be by his side.

His grandmother, Alison Marchant, said he had just finished a term at university and decided to go to Italy’s capital “to get some of the culture” before starting a job placement.

She thanked everyone who had rallied to support the family following the accident and for the many kind messages received.