I’m just popping out: Last words of back pain gran who jumped off car park
A GRANDMOTHER racked with constant pain jumped from the top of a multi- storey car park to end her suffering, her devastated husband said yesterday.
Sandra Garratt, 56, went through two years of agony following two back operations for a slipped disc and not even morphine could dull the pain.
Last month doctors told the housewife there was nothing more they could do ease her suffering and this was the ‘final straw’, according to her husband Steve.
On Good Friday, the mother of two left her home in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, after telling her husband she was ‘just popping out’. But he became anxious for her welfare and he called the police.
At 2.35pm, police and ambulance crews were called to the Cornbow Shopping Centre in Halesowen, where they discov- ered Mrs Garratt’s body. She had fallen more than 50ft from the top of an Asda supermarket multi-storey car park.
Mr Garratt, 57, told how he gave up his job as a community transport driver last year to care for his wife. He said her suffering had intensified in the last 18 months of her life and the pain had spread to her legs, feet and fingers.
He added: ‘She was in pain every minute of every day. She was a happy lovely person but withdrew from her happy family life. Before there had been hope but when there was nothing they could do, it was the final straw.
‘Everybody says the same – she is now free from the pain. That’s the only bit of comfort.
‘The doctors and GPs, within the scope of the NHS waiting lists and everything that goes on, did everything they could.’
Mrs Garratt leaves behind daughter Lucy, 37, son Jonathan, 26, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Jessica. The coroner has been informed of her death. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457 909090, visit a local Samaritans branch or go to www.samaritans.org