A MORUYA woman says she has been ignored by Eurobodalla Shire Council after she was injured from tripping on an uneven footpath two years ago.
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Christine Ingram, 60, tripped on the section of footpath in Evans Street in July 2012.
She said one section of footpath had sunk about three inches below the other.
“There was council blue paint on either side of the rise, so they (council) knew about it,” Mrs Ingram said.
“I know two other people who tripped on this bit of footpath but didn’t report it to council.”
Mrs Ingram had a knee operation in Canberra in April 2013, most of which was paid for by WorkCover as she is a administration manger at Moruya Public School and the accident occurred outside the school.
“There was a loose bone fragment and split cartilage,” she said.
“It was excruciating.”
Her husband Ron said he had inquired with council about some financial help regarding ongoing injuries his wife suffered as a result of the fall, but had been brushed aside.
“I went and saw councillor Rob Pollock after I got sick of them stonewalling me,” he said.
“He put in all the paperwork to council’s legal department, but I haven’t heard from them since.
“We are not asking for much, just help with an operation. We don’t want to sue them.”
Mrs Ingram had a knee replacement in 1990, and during the April 2013 operation it was revealed that a staple from this was protruding from the bone.
“We couldn’t prove that this hadn’t been dislodged before the accident, so we had to pay the $440 for this part of the operation,” Mrs Ingram said.
Since the injury, the Ingrams’ quality of life has plummeted.
“I live on Panadol, and sleep is near impossible,” Mrs Ingram said.
“I have never seen her like this in 40 years,” Mr Ingram said.
“She is in pain and there are so many things like gardening that she can’t do anymore.”
Mrs Ingram said the pressure she had to transfer onto her “good” knee meant both were likely to need surgery in the near future.
Meanwhile, Mr Ingram wants to hear from council.
“We want them to talk to us, not just ignore us and treat us like idiots,” he said.
Cr Pollock said he would do what he could to “unscramble the lines of communication” between the Ingrams and council.
The uneven section of footpath has been fixed.
Eurobodalla Shire Council says it has not received any claim from Christine Ingram regarding her 2012 fall on an uneven Moruya footpath.
A council spokeswoman said the council received a phone call and an email from Mrs Ingram about the trip incident in July-August 2012.
“Mrs Ingram received a response from council on August 14, 2012 thanking her for letting us know about the incident and advising that the footpath was repaired as an interim measure earlier that month,” the spokeswoman said.
“In the letter we also explained how to make a claim, and Mrs Ingram was provided contact details and an invitation to contact council’s insurance, risk and claims officer.
“Mrs Ingram has not submitted any claims to council, and we have no record of any other contact or correspondence from her since August 2012.”