Peter Gifford thought cleaning the airconditioner on the roof of his Dunlop home would be a simple job, one of many tasks to be done around the house.
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But, in early November, Mr Gifford fell and crashed through the adjoining pergola. He thinks he lay unconscious on the concrete for more than an hour before a paramedic riding a bicycle through the suburb found him screaming.
Now the 68-year-old has warned people heading up their ladders to take precautions or bring in the professionals.
"It's not worth the risk," he said.
Mr Gifford sustained a head injury, broke six ribs, a shoulder, clavicle and both his lungs deflated.
After being taken to Canberra Hospital, he spent 10 days in intensive care and a further three days recovering in a general ward.
"I've got no memory, no recall of anything, until on [I was on] the ground yelling. It's probably an hour after. Because I reckon I got up on the roof about 12 o'clock, and I reckon it was 1 o'clock or so before someone found me," he said.
Mr Gifford's recovery impressed medical staff.
"They were impressed at the hospital I was out so quick," Mr Gifford said.
Mr Gifford said he tried to stay positive after the fall, with his sense of humour intact.
"Everyone says, 'Jeez, you're lucky, you're lucky.' You think, looking through my eyes, you know, what's that lucky about it? Lucky I'm upright, lucky I've got a good family to look after me," he said.
"Unlucky is not getting up at all, I suppose. I'm pretty lucky."
More people take to their rooftops in the warmer months, clearing gutters and airconditioning units, as well as hanging Christmas lights.
Canberra Health Services have urged people to take care when working on their roofs, with a spike in ladder related injuries in the summer months.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2017 found falling from a ladder was the most common cause of do-it-yourself injury in 2013-14 and 81 per cent of do-it-yourself injuries were sustained by men.
The third-most common cause of do-it-yourself injury in the same period was falling from or through a building or structure, the research found.
Mr Gifford said people should think seriously before doing any work on their roof by themselves.
"Make sure there's someone else with you in case something does happen or call someone to do the job, [that] would be my advice at the moment.
"Just call someone to do the job if you're getting on in years," he said.
Mr Gifford said he was lucky to have the support of his family, friends and neighbours as he slowly recovered at home.
He also had high praise for the quality of the care he received in hospital.
But one big change would be made even if Mr Gifford makes a full recovery.
"It's time to get rid of the ladder," he said.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
